ENG vs PAK: Former cricketer Michael Atherton thinks that Ben Stokes’ contribution to the England team is comparable to Virat Kohli’s contribution to India. The importance of red-ball cricket to Kohli was also highlighted by Atherton.
England on a winning streak under new captaincy
Stokes, who took over for Joe Root as England’s Test captain, has radically turned around the tables in a short period of time. England has won six of their last seven Test matches under the all-rounder’s leadership, and they are confident going into their three-match series against Pakistan against Pakistan.
In an interview , Atherton expressed his high expectations for Stokes as England’s Test captain. In order to convince Liam Livingstone to be available for Test cricket, the former opener believes Ben Stokes played a major role.
Atherton said, “The importance of Stokes to this project, it’s a bit like Virat Kohli in India. Kohli is the most important cricketer in India, and therefore probably the world, and he was very much: ‘I still think Test cricket is a worthwhile thing to be involved in’, and therefore young players followed that.”
Continuing further, he said “Stokes saying to Livingstone: ‘Forget the Big Bash and the £150,000, come and play Test cricket for us in Pakistan’. He’s a very hard man to say no to Ben Stokes. So having a player of that stature, charisma and importance, that still values the five-day game, is a big thing.”
Virat Kohli’s massive captaincy records in Test Cricket
With 40 victories in 68 tests and no home series losses, former Indian Test captain Virat Kohli is the most successful captain in the country’s history. In terms of victories as the Test captain, the right-handed batter is fourth all-time amongst other world greats.
Meanwhile, England is playing against Pakistan with the first test beginning today in Rawalpindi.
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