Stokes will now have to be a little cautious since he has three demerit points.
England’s ace all-rounder Ben Stokes often becomes the talk of the town because of his verbal hostilities on the field. He had already exchanged heated moments with Marlon Samuels, Virat Kohli, Shakib Al Hasan, Imad Wasim and Tamim Iqbal over the course of his England career.
However, the seasoned campaigner feels that it all happens because of the heat of the moment and he will never cross the line on a cricket pitch.
“There’s adrenaline there, but I’d never get close to punching someone. It’s the heat of the moment. Trying to be the bloke to get the wicket that will change the game back in our favour,” Stokes was quoted by Times.co.uk as saying.
During the recently concluded Test series against the West Indies, Stokes received yet another official reprimand from the International Cricket Council (ICC). He was found guilty of using "obscene, offensive or insulting" language during the second day’s play at Headingley.
The 26-year-old was found to have breached Article 2.1.4 of the ICC code of conduct in the 101st over of West Indies' first innings in the second Test, when Shai Hope edged him for a boundary. It was described as an "inappropriate comment" and was evidently audible through the stump microphone.
Besides the reprimand, one demerit point has also been added up to the fiery cricketer's already tainted record book. Stokes now boasts a total of three demerit points and if he reaches four or more within a two-year period, it will get converted into suspension points and he will have to face the ban.
“Look, from what I’ve heard [the authorities] are going to sit down and discuss the rulings on that. If a batsman gets hit close to the stump mic and swears in pain, is that going to be a penalty? A heap of frustration had built up all that day and then the batsman got a nick and it went for four, and swearing was a release for me,” Stokes said.
See More: Ben Stokes is a “street fighter”, says Nasser Hussain
On being asked if he likes to be given space when he doesn’t perform well, the vice-captain of England Test team said: “If someone gets out or bowls badly, you try not to get in their space. Leave them to it.”
“I methodically pack my kit bag now when I get too pissed off, because it takes me five or ten minutes and by then I’m usually done with the frustration and anger,” concluded Stokes.