England all-rounder Ben Stokes said he has enjoyed and loved every minute on the field against Australia in the ongoing Ashes 2021-22, saying wearing the Three Lions is one of the great feelings for him after he had an impactful outing in the ongoing second Test in Adelaide.
Stokes scalped 3 wickets while conceding 113 runs in 25 overs in the first innings of the ongoing day-night second Ashes Test against Australia in Adelaide. England spent time in the field bowling 150.4 overs over the first two days, as Australia declared at 473/9 in the ongoing pink-ball Test.
After two tough days, Stokes said that he is finding some perspective after returning to cricket from a six-month absence due to a finger injury and for a mental health break while admitting that the first two days of the ongoing second Ashes Test were tough for England.
Stokes told Australian Associated Press: “It has been a tough two days. It's never ideal but you have just got to love the dirt when you get that deep and understand what you're playing for.”
On his performance with the ball in Adelaide, the pacer said: “I have loved every minute of it. Walking out onto the field and wearing the Three Lions is one of the great feeling as a cricketer.”
He also defended England's bowling tactics, revolving around sustained periods of short-pitched bowling on the opening day of the second Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval.
Stokes said, “It's just trying to create a different type of, not energy, but create a different type of environment out there for the batters. It does look odd when you're trying to run in and bowl 11 overs of short stuff. But the first couple of spells I felt like it created quite a lot of chances.”
Stokes also highlighted the tragic jumping castle accident in Tasmania which killed five children on Thursday. The all-rounder signed off by saying, “The reason why the Australians were wearing the black armbands today puts a lot of things into perspective.”
(With AP Inputs)
