Is Ben Stokes the most unlikeable or hated professional cricketer in the world?

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kagiso Rabada the latest cricketer to give Ben Stokes a farewell message <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/T7MPUimjo9">pic.twitter.com/T7MPUimjo9</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/884014571081658368">July 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[Varun]

England cricketer having his share of success.

Will burn bright like a phoenix for 3 - 4 years and then fade away into the scrapheap like so many others before him. Though if he wins a series against Australia he might be blessed with a knighthood or two along the way.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I sort of feel bad for the poor lad. I think he tries to make up for the fact that he's originally from New Zealand with this false sense of aggressive patriotism and passion. He's probably just trying to show his commitment to the English team and setup.

The only problem is, he talks a lot and goes missing sometimes. However, if I were to be honest, he is immensely talented and probably one of the best naturally gifted players in the world. Some of his innings have been more than spectacular. His hundred in Australia. His double hundred vs South Africa or his 100 in Bangladesh, all have been some of the best innings I've witnessed. To add to that, he bowls fast and more importantly, doesn't hold anything back, gives it his all - like I said, he most probably has complexes. He's like the school bully who's really just sad inside and the bullying is his coping mechanism.

 

[HitWicket]

To be honest I'm not sure Rabadas send off or reaction to his wicket in the 2nd innings was much to do with him. Stokes just happened to be his 1st wicket in the first innings after he'd frustratingly been pretty expensive by his standards and wicketless. Stokes just then also happened to be his first wicket after he received his ban. Unlike Kohli the finger to his lip wasn't directed at Stokes.

 

[Markhor]

He needs to control his emotions, too much of a hothead.

 

[Billy1999]

I don't really like him and TBH he gets overrated a lot

He hardly bowls and isn't a proper alrounder as he doesn't bowl that much

 

[Ab Fan]

Yes and that is because he is the most overrated cricketer going around in the world.

 

[kaifmazhar]

The unprovoked shout of 'Misbaaaah' in UAE . Does anyone remember it?? That was kinda funny. And he appeared like that helpless cricketer there.

 

[Hawkeye]

A lot of times he just looks helpless and hopeless in the field, especially when bowling because his bowling is club level at best .

Out of that helpless situation he gets frustrated, gets tonked by batsmen and that frustrates him even further. Then his antics become funny and you start feeling sympathy for him.

Yeah he tries to act weird and in that helplessness throws abuses around.

But, he's a lot of talk without any substance. He can't walk the talk, goes missing on important stages and is a big bottler.

That's why he isn't really liked.

He can't back his words or antics like Kohli or Steyn for example.

In this case he's a bit like Imad Wasim. Not good enough but always talking.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Most probably ,YES.

 

[Syed1]

He isn't even a good player. We all saw what happened in the CT semifinal or the WT20 final. Over-rated and over-hyped. Pandya is already better.

 

[Proactive_]

He isn't even a good player. We all saw what happened in the CT semifinal or the WT20 final. Over-rated and over-hyped. Pandya is already better.

LOL. Stokes' century at Perth vs a rampaging Australia which had already put like half the English team into retirement by that point in itself makes him like 10 times better than Pandya. Pandya isn't even a Test player at this point and blows hot and cold in ODIs. Hilarious comparison.

 

[The Googly]

Good player Stokes. I rate him.

But yes - a dislikable chap.

 

[Forum363]

He epitomises why I dislike English cricket so much, and why i stopped playing club cricket here a long time ago.

Even without the atitude issues, he is the most overrated player in world cricket. His bowling is club level at best but because he is a very good fielder and aggressive batsman, he is being treated like a superstar. I would rate Moeen Ali as a considerably better all rounder than him, his bowling is like a slightly quicker version of Mathews.

He will fizzle out in a few years whether thats down to fitness issues or some other breakdown.

 

[Shaka81]

He's a really unpleasant guy, kinda like Stuart Broad but then being Scottish it's hard to support or like any English player!

 

[leatherface58]

Stokes is an excellent heel. He is assuming the Broad role of soaking in all the heat from the crowd.

 

[Rikaz]

Would love to have a player like him on my team takes all the pressure away from the rest of the lot. Great allrounder hopefully he keeps it up

 

[yasir]

Strokes is one of the best, if not the best all rounder in the world. I like him, you need that kind of character in the team. In Misbah's era, too much gentlemen had killed the flair of the team, you need character and hot headed individuals in line up, nothing wrong with that.

One of the reason he may not be liked in Asia is because his strength is playing fast bowling, going after them in tough conditions, which is not the visible in Asia. He was gold for England in AUS and SA, that matters a lot for English team.

People comparing Pyanda with Strokes, don't understand test cricket

 

[Convict]

Unlikeable/hated is way too far.

But Stokes gives as good as he gets and there is a common factor in him getting all these sendoffs.

 

[Robert]

Stokes is a combative man. People don't expect that from an England player. If he was an Aussie nobody would mention it.

 

[James]

Stokes is an excellent heel. He is assuming the Broad role of soaking in all the heat from the crowd.

Spot on. It is largely a play act.

And [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] is 100% correct, if this was an Aussie player everyone would be saying they love the Aussie team because they are so aggressive and competitive. Or if this was a South African player he would be seen as rugged and passionate. Or if it was a West Indies player - instead of 'hothead' everyone would be saying 'firebrand'.

Subtle anti-England sentiment, but easily seen through by many of us!

 

[Hawkeye]

Stokes is a combative man. People don't expect that from an England player. If he was an Aussie nobody would mention it.

Spot on. It is largely a play act.

And [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] is 100% correct, if this was an Aussie player everyone would be saying they love the Aussie team because they are so aggressive and competitive. Or if this was a South African player he would be seen as rugged and passionate. Or if it was a West Indies player - instead of 'hothead' everyone would be saying 'firebrand'.

Subtle anti-England sentiment, but easily seen through by many of us!

If you're good enough and you run your mouth all the time, that's okay.

His bowling is club level and he has always bottled it at the big stage for Eng.

 

[SM1989]

Players should be well behaved. I hate aggressive characters whether English, Pakistani, Indian or Aussie etc . Cricket is a gentlemen's game, lets not forget that.

The best of us is the one with the best character.

 

[silentkiller187]

stokes is annoying but he wears his heart on his sleeve. I think he is trying too hard to be a cheeky chappy like freddie flintoff and is now coming across as a childish so and so.

 

[Hasan123]

I respect him as a player and I rate him as a player. But he is too hot headed and its something which i really dislike about him.

 

[leatherface58]

If you're good enough and you run your mouth all the time, that's okay.

His bowling is club level and he has always bottled it at the big stage for Eng.

Stokes on his day is damn good. He bowled his heart out on the pace unfriendly wickets of India. He is a proper all rounder who can deliver on his day. He did damn well in his first series in Australia against hostile MJ and Harris. Besides, the point of a heel is to do obnoxious things so whether he is good enough or not, it does not matter. Every team needs that "jerk" personality to add a little flavor to the game.

 

[Convict]

Stokes is a combative man. People don't expect that from an England player. If he was an Aussie nobody would mention it.

Dunno. People bring up Warner a lot.

Stokes gives as good as he gets and like Warner I doubt he wants anyone feeling bad for him.

 

[Robert]

Dunno. People bring up Warner a lot.

Stokes gives as good as he gets and like Warner I doubt he wants anyone feeling bad for him.

Punchy is the panto villain here. It's all good fun, there's no real anger in it.

 

[Robert]

If you're good enough and you run your mouth all the time, that's okay.

His bowling is club level and he has always bottled it at the big stage for Eng.

If by 'always' you mean 'one T20 match'. He didn't bottle it, he made a wrong decision.

 

[SM1989]

If by 'always' you mean 'one T20 match'. He didn't bottle it, he made a wrong decision.

He bottled it against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy semi final as well. Batted at a strike rate of 50

 

[Rana]

He is good for cricket, not boring!

 

[shaz619]

I don't have a problem with him tbh, cricket needs a good heel and it makes things a bit interesting

 

[Robert]

He bottled it against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy semi final as well. Batted at a strike rate of 50

Didn't all the England batters find it hard to score? How about giving the PAK bowlers some credit?

 

[Syed1]

Didn't all the England batters find it hard to score? How about giving the PAK bowlers some credit?

Then he went for 33 off his 3,1 overs.

 

[SM1989]

Then he went for 33 off his 3,1 overs.

So true. An absolute failure at the grand stage.

 

[mak36]

Just compare the commentary from when Moeen got out, to when Stokes got out, and you'll have your answer.