Ben Stokes has disclosed that he made an apology to his England teammates following his expression of frustration during their second bowling innings in Multan. The incident occurred as England suffered a defeat in the second Test against Pakistan.
The match in Multan saw Pakistan outshine England with their combative spin attack, resulting in a 152-run victory that levelled the series. The hosts made a bold decision to reuse the pitch where England had previously amassed over 800 runs in an innings just a week prior. However, this time around, the pitch favoured the bowlers more, with Pakistan’s spin attack proving too challenging for the touring side.
Stokes, who returned to the team as captain and all-rounder for the match, expressed visible frustration as England missed key opportunities to stay competitive, particularly when crucial catches were dropped on the third day of the Test. Reflecting on this, Stokes admitted to Sky Sports, “No one means to drop catches, and it just shows how important catches are in these subcontinent conditions.”
Following the conclusion of the Test, Stokes took responsibility for his emotional display during the game, stating, “It’s the first time in my captaincy that I’ve let my emotions in how the game was unfolding show in my body language.” He added, “I owned up to that and I’m very annoyed at myself for letting that out. It’s something that I don’t want to do or be seen to be doing.”
Acknowledging his lapse in composure, Stokes conveyed his apology to the team, expressing regret for his behaviour and assuring that such actions would not be repeated. He recognised his error and assured his teammates that they would not witness a similar outburst from him in the future.
The incident with Stokes did not end with his emotional display, as during his batting turn, he faced 35 balls on the fourth day of the Test before attempting an aggressive shot that led to him throwing his bat in frustration after missing the ball.
Stokes’ candour in admitting his mistake and showing accountability to his teammates reflects his commitment to upholding the standards expected of him as a player and a leader within the England cricket team.