Tags: England tour of India 2024,
India vs England, 5th Test at Dharamsala, Mar 07-11, 2024,
India,
England,
Benjamin Andrew Stokes
Published on: Mar 10, 2024
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England captain Ben Stokes conceded that India were too good for the visitors in the five-match Test series that the hosts won 4-1. The Englishmen began the series on a promising note with a come-from-behind 28-run triumph in Hyderabad. However, it was all India after that. They won the next four Tests, most of them by comprehensive margins.
The five-match series ended on Saturday, March 9 as India hammered England by an innings and 64 runs inside three days. England were bowled out for 195 in their second innings as Indian spinners yet again spun a well around the English batters. According to Stokes, India not only dominated in home conditions, but also stood up in crunch moments.
“I’m full of admiration for India and the beast they are in their home conditions. Obviously, a lot was said about certain (Indian) players not being here. But this series has shown the depth of Indian cricket,” Stokes said after the end of the Test series.
“We have seen a lot of young players come in and do extremely well (for India). Since that first game, India have been the much better team and obviously 4-1 reflects that,” he added.
England had a pre-series preparation camp in Abu Dhabi and, even when there was a break in between the series, they went back to the Middle East to work harder. However, the results just did not come against an inspired Indian side. Stokes admitted that the end result was hugely disappointing.
“I’m very disappointed, not only in myself but I’m disappointed for the team because of how much hard work has gone into this tour itself. If we weren’t disappointed, if we weren’t frustrated at how the series has ended up, I don’t really know what other emotions you could have,” Stokes said.
He reiterated that England lost to a much better side in conditions that India exploited brilliantly to their advantage.
“We came here with very high hopes and confident about what we could achieve and started off very well. But obviously losing the series 1-4, not just myself but the team are big enough to say we’ve been completely outplayed in the last four games,” the England captain said.
The visitors overcame a 190-run deficit in Hyderabad to win the contest after Ollie Pope hammered a brilliant 196 in the second innings. On how England lost the plot from there, the captain said, “The team who seizes those opportunities and moments, theirs are the team that are going to come out on top. Whenever we managed to wrestle back any type of momentum with the ball or bat, India were always able to put it back on to us.
“That was where the Tests after the first one were won and lost. It’s obviously very disappointing. But I’m always man enough to say that we got beaten by the better team,” he added.
Apart from the series loss, Stokes had a forgettable time with the bat as well. He managed only 199 runs in 10 innings at an average of under 20.
–By A Cricket Correspondent
