Ben Stokes won’t pull any punches, at least not on the field.
The explosive England batsman had to miss the previous edition of the World T20 due to a fracture in the right hand — an injury he sustained when he struck a locker in the dressing room after his dismissal in a T20 game against the West Indies. Stokes, 24, is hoping to make amends as a young England side takes on the mightiest talent in the premier T20 tournament.
“I am just as annoyed when I get out,” said the Englishman in the lead up to the tournament in Mumbai on Wednesday. “But I don’t punch lockers any more!”
The build-up to this World T20 has been dramatically different for the Durham player. He comes with a big-hitting reputation in having scored the fastest-ever double century for England and the second-fastest in Test history.
And Stokes has credited the turnaround to England’s coaching staff of Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace.
“The coaches have really given us the freedom to go out and play our natural style,” Stokes said. “They said that we should go out and play like we do in the Counties (county cricket) and not worry too much. That is a massive release, and at least for a player like me it gives me the assurance to go and express myself fully rather than worrying too much about the repercussions in the dressing room. This team has really started doing well since the New Zealand series. There’s great team spirit and confidence in each other.”