Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif has publicly questioned the widespread praise surrounding England Test captain Ben Stokes, highlighting what he sees as tactical missteps during England’s recent match against India.
Stokes’ Captaincy Under Fire
Mohammed Kaif expressed his confusion regarding the “hype” around Ben Stokes’ leadership. His comments came after India amassed a massive 1014 runs across both innings, setting an imposing target of 608 for England in the Edgbaston Test.
Kaif specifically critiqued Stokes’ decision to bowl first on a “flat track with sun shining.” He also pointed out a lack of an extra slip fielder despite edges flying, suggesting a lack of tactical awareness.
“I have never understood the hype around Ben Stokes the captain,” Kaif stated on X. He added, “Batsmen took England to win in first Test but Stokes didn’t score many. Please inform if I have missed any of his hidden leadership master stroke.”
The “Bazball” Approach
Under Ben Stokes’ captaincy and coach Brendon McCullum’s “Bazball” philosophy, England’s Test team has embraced an aggressive, attacking style of play. Their aim is to eliminate draws by always pushing for a win, either by chasing down high totals or going down trying.
This approach has yielded significant success for England. Since June 2022, under Stokes’ full-time captaincy, England has won 21 of their 34 Tests, losing 12 and drawing only one rain-affected match.
Despite this impressive win-loss record, Kaif’s comments suggest that he believes the credit for these victories might lie more with the batters’ execution rather than Stokes’ tactical brilliance.
India’s Dominance and Stokes’ Batting Form
The Edgbaston Test saw India dominate, especially with captain Shubman Gill’s exceptional performance. Gill recorded twin centuries, totaling 430 runs in the match – becoming the first player to score over 250 and 150 in the same Test.
As India pushed for victory, their pacers Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj made crucial breakthroughs late on Day 4, reducing England to 72 for three. This left the home side in a precarious position against the daunting target.
Beyond his captaincy, Stokes’ personal batting form has also been under scrutiny. He was dismissed for a golden duck against Siraj in the first innings, his first in a 202-innings Test career. Since last year, Stokes has averaged just 26.56 in Tests, scoring 664 runs in 27 innings with five half-centuries.
- Mohammed Kaif questioned Ben Stokes’ tactical decisions, particularly bowling first on a flat pitch and field placements.
- England’s “Bazball” strategy under Stokes has led to a high win rate but Kaif suggests batters deserve more credit.
- Stokes’ recent individual batting form has also been modest, including a rare golden duck in the Edgbaston Test.
The debate surrounding Ben Stokes’ captaincy highlights the fine line between aggressive intent and strategic execution in Test cricket.
