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Ben Stokes Addresses Media After Series Loss to Pakistan
Reflecting on the defeat:
"The best way to sum it up without overanalyzing is that losing games for England hurts. It’s disappointing because we had a very good chance of winning this game. But you have to give credit to Noman and Sajid for how they bowled in the second Test and in this game. They were outstanding and posed a significant challenge. We have to acknowledge that they were simply too good for our batting lineup in the last two games."
Importance of consistency:
"Consistency is key. As I said, we did well in short bursts throughout the second game and this one, but when you don’t sustain that, you start to fall away. We’re always looking to put pressure back on the opposition when we’re batting. It doesn’t always mean big scoring shots; even just staying at the crease can make a difference. Jamie Smith’s first innings here was a great example—just being there applied pressure on Pakistan’s bowling unit. Then, when he and Gus built their partnership, you could see they knew when to turn up the pressure. That was a positive for us, but if you don’t sustain it, you’re not giving yourself the best chance of winning."
Selflessness in the team:
"Selflessness is crucial in team sports. Everyone in that dressing room is selfless, putting the team before themselves. Whether as a batsman or bowler, sometimes you get the rewards, and other times, you don’t. On those days, there’s a teammate who’s reaping the rewards, and that’s the beauty of team sports. When you feel disappointed in your own performance, you have a teammate’s success to celebrate. Over the last couple of years, we’ve celebrated some special individual performances, especially from Ollie Pope. There are highs and lows in cricket; I’ve played a lot of cricket, and I have a lot of experience to fall back on. We're leaving here disappointed because we always want to end a tour with a series win."
Personal fitness and strategy:
"In terms of my own fitness on the field, no issues there. I’ve worked hard to get back, especially for the second Test. It’s felt like a long tour because I’ve been focused on getting fit for each Test, with little rest. But when it came to my bowling in this game, I felt that our options with spin, particularly with Gus, were stronger, so I didn’t bowl."
On home advantage and pitch conditions:
"We have no complaints about the pitches in either of the Tests. Playing in home conditions, Pakistan did what they felt would give them the best chance to win, and I respect that. They used their home conditions to their advantage, and to be fair, the pitch here was challenging from the start. It might have worsened as the game progressed, but ultimately, Pakistan just played better cricket for longer periods."
Challenges in Asian conditions:
"It’s always challenging playing in Asia, especially when you’re faced with spinning conditions and high-quality bowlers who’ve grown up on these surfaces. The difference in these two games was how well Pakistan’s spinners understood the conditions. I think our spinners also did a fantastic job, taking crucial wickets and learning on the job. I reminded them that this experience—figuring out how to bowl in different conditions at different stages of a game—is invaluable. It was exciting to see Rehan come on and make an impact. These are two very talented, exciting players who’ve shown their skills on this tour."
Taking positives despite the loss:
"While we would have loved to be on the winning side, I try to take away positives from every series, whether good or bad. Pakistan played very well."
Reflecting on the defeat:
"The best way to sum it up without overanalyzing is that losing games for England hurts. It’s disappointing because we had a very good chance of winning this game. But you have to give credit to Noman and Sajid for how they bowled in the second Test and in this game. They were outstanding and posed a significant challenge. We have to acknowledge that they were simply too good for our batting lineup in the last two games."
Importance of consistency:
"Consistency is key. As I said, we did well in short bursts throughout the second game and this one, but when you don’t sustain that, you start to fall away. We’re always looking to put pressure back on the opposition when we’re batting. It doesn’t always mean big scoring shots; even just staying at the crease can make a difference. Jamie Smith’s first innings here was a great example—just being there applied pressure on Pakistan’s bowling unit. Then, when he and Gus built their partnership, you could see they knew when to turn up the pressure. That was a positive for us, but if you don’t sustain it, you’re not giving yourself the best chance of winning."
Selflessness in the team:
"Selflessness is crucial in team sports. Everyone in that dressing room is selfless, putting the team before themselves. Whether as a batsman or bowler, sometimes you get the rewards, and other times, you don’t. On those days, there’s a teammate who’s reaping the rewards, and that’s the beauty of team sports. When you feel disappointed in your own performance, you have a teammate’s success to celebrate. Over the last couple of years, we’ve celebrated some special individual performances, especially from Ollie Pope. There are highs and lows in cricket; I’ve played a lot of cricket, and I have a lot of experience to fall back on. We're leaving here disappointed because we always want to end a tour with a series win."
Personal fitness and strategy:
"In terms of my own fitness on the field, no issues there. I’ve worked hard to get back, especially for the second Test. It’s felt like a long tour because I’ve been focused on getting fit for each Test, with little rest. But when it came to my bowling in this game, I felt that our options with spin, particularly with Gus, were stronger, so I didn’t bowl."
On home advantage and pitch conditions:
"We have no complaints about the pitches in either of the Tests. Playing in home conditions, Pakistan did what they felt would give them the best chance to win, and I respect that. They used their home conditions to their advantage, and to be fair, the pitch here was challenging from the start. It might have worsened as the game progressed, but ultimately, Pakistan just played better cricket for longer periods."
Challenges in Asian conditions:
"It’s always challenging playing in Asia, especially when you’re faced with spinning conditions and high-quality bowlers who’ve grown up on these surfaces. The difference in these two games was how well Pakistan’s spinners understood the conditions. I think our spinners also did a fantastic job, taking crucial wickets and learning on the job. I reminded them that this experience—figuring out how to bowl in different conditions at different stages of a game—is invaluable. It was exciting to see Rehan come on and make an impact. These are two very talented, exciting players who’ve shown their skills on this tour."
Taking positives despite the loss:
"While we would have loved to be on the winning side, I try to take away positives from every series, whether good or bad. Pakistan played very well."
