Ben Stokes struck a note of defiance after England’s failed tour of India was sealed with a three-day hammering in the foothills of the Himalayas, insisting his players will learn from the pain of the 4-1 scoreline and stressing neither he nor his team should be written off.
After the tourists were skittled for 195 in only 48.1 overs to complete a grim innings and 64-run defeat, Stokes accepted his own shortcomings – an average of 19.9 after a duck and two in the fifth Test – and said the path ahead was one of two choices. “It is a tough game, cricket, and it can eat you up,” he said. “But this tour in particular is always one that can lead you astray or make you a better player.
