Big Ben ready to strike

Ben Stokes wants to be involved in the big moments of the Champions Trophy and help England win the tournament.

Ben Stokes wants to be involved in the big moments of the tournament and help England win the trophy.

After making waves in the Indian Premier League for Rising Pune Supergiant, all-rounder Ben Stokes will be the key man for England in the Champions Trophy. He has been in tremendous batting form, scoring a hundred in the IPL this year, followed by a series-clinching century against South Africa in the bilateral ODI series in England.

  England would be hoping for Stokes’ troublesome knee to heal on time so that he could inflict maximum damage on the opposition during the Champions Trophy.

Stokes wants to be involved in the big moments of the tournament and help England win the trophy.

Speaking of the IPL and playing alongside Australia’s Steve Smith and India’s M. S. Dhoni for Rising Pune Supergiant, the England all-rounder is of the view that the experience will stand him in good stead in the Champions Trophy.

 

“I guess it can only help. For example, being with Smith for every training session for over six weeks (of the IPL), to be able to play with him and watch him, you get an understanding...When you watch someone and train with someone, you just happen to know the other side of him which you don’t know by analysing after playing against him. But I wouldn’t say that I have purposely stood there and watched them bat to try and pick any weakness that we can exploit…,” says Stokes.

As for his personal ambition and expectations for the tournament, Stokes says, “I have never ever turned to personal side of things. I have never thought about how many wickets I want or something. I obviously want to win it here.”

Courtesy: Star Sports