Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers recently engaged in an enthralling discussion with his ex-teammate Shaun Pollock about the ongoing Ashes series between England and Australia.
De Villiers expressed his admiration for England captain Ben Stokes, acknowledging his exceptional skills as an all-rounder and remarkable leadership qualities.
In the last three Tests of the Ashes series, Australia emerged victorious in the first two matches, while England bounced back to win the third Test, keeping the series alive and injecting renewed excitement into the contest.
De Villiers lavished praises on Stokes, recognizing his prowess as both a batsman and a bowler. The Proteas star commended Stokes’ all-round abilities, emphasizing his impact on the game with his contributions in both disciplines.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers said: “He’s [Ben Stokes] an incredible cricket player. He’s got a really sharp cricket brain. You see, we watched him in that last Test match, how calm he was. Actually, all the Test matches, I can tell you now, to lose the first two Test matches in the five-match series is very nerve-wracking but he was always just calm, especially losing that second one so close.”
Furthermore, de Villiers highlighted the challenges faced by Stokes, acknowledging the criticism he has encountered from the English commentators. However, he lauded Stokes’ ability to handle such scrutiny with grace, displaying a level of maturity and resilience that sets him apart.
“I know he caught some criticism from the commentators, which I thought was a bit harsh because it’s very easy to keep criticism when you tunnel down in a series and things are not going your way. But I thought Ben Stokes handled it very well,” remarked AB.
Stokes currently stands as the second-highest scorer in the Ashes 2023, just behind Usman Khawaja, accumulating 309 runs in three Tests at an average of 51.50. His standout performance came in the fourth innings at Lord’s, where he scored a remarkable 155 runs in a losing cause.
In terms of bowling, Stokes has taken three wickets in the first two Tests. Although he did not bowl in the Headingley Test, where England secured a thrilling three-wicket victory, his contributions with both bat and ball have been instrumental in the hosts’ Ashes campaign.
Clearly impressed by Stokes’ all-round abilities, de Villiers added, “He is a fantastic batter and a fantastic bowler who can take the game away from the opposition with both bat and ball. What a player.”
