We Will Still Be Putting Out A Proper Class Side With Plenty Of Experience - Ben Stokes Hails England's Bench Strength

Ben Stokes will captain England in the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan starting July 8 in Cardiff. The superstar all-rounder was drafted as the skipper of the side as an immediate action in the aftermath of the original squad, including regular skipper Eoin Morgan, being placed in isolation following 7 positive results – three players and four support staff – were reported in the squad that defeated Sri Lanka.

The selectors then announced a completely new 18-man ODI squad to host Pakistan; the squad includes as many as 9 uncapped players with a few experienced guys in Jake Ball, Lewis Gregory, Dawid Malan, and James Vince other than Ben Stokes himself.

The all-rounder, who was pulled out from his Blast duties for Durham, was effusive in praise for England’s bench strength. He assured fans that the side, though lacking any significant experience at the highest level, will give a stiff challenge to the visitors.

“To say that I wasn’t expecting to be leading England out in a one day match in Cardiff this week would be a huge understatement. I only packed clothes for three days away from home, so there will need to be a bit of extra washing done,” Ben Stokes wrote in his column for The Mirror.

“We might be 20 first choice players down through isolation and injuries, but we will still be putting out a proper international class side with plenty of experience at the highest level. I’m not sure how many countries could lose this many players and still have such quality to choose from at such short notice,” he added.

The initial plan for me wasn’t to play any international white-ball cricket: Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes also revealed that he wasn’t supposed to play any white-ball internationals this summer and would appear straight away in the Test series against England. He had undergone surgery on his finger injury which he sustained in his first game of IPL 2021.

The left-handed batsman was then rested from the Sri Lanka T20I and ODI series and from the Pakistan ODI and T20I series as well. However, now in an eleventh-hour call-up, he would be captaining England.

“With my finger still on the mend, the initial plan for me wasn’t to play any international white ball cricket at all and just focus on getting absolutely ready for the India Test series, but things change,” the all-rounder further added.

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