England captain Ben Stokes candidly addressed the pivotal moments that led to his team’s significant 336-run defeat against India in the second Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Edgbaston. During the post-match presentation, Stokes discussed his decision to bowl first, a choice he refrained from directly justifying. He noted that as the match progressed, the pitch conditions increasingly favored the visiting Indian team over the hosts. Stokes highlighted two critical junctures where England lost their grip on the game: allowing India to recover from 200-5 and conceding a substantial 180-run lead, which enabled Indian batsmen, including captain Shubman Gill, to post formidable scores.

Stokes pinpointed these moments as crucial: “Two moments – having them 200-5 and not being able to burst them open after a good start with the ball. And being 80-5. It was going to be tough to scrape it back from there. You look back at 200-5. If we were able to burst them open quicker, things could have been different.” Despite these setbacks, Stokes expressed confidence in his bowlers’ efforts, acknowledging India’s superior performance and Gill’s exceptional innings.

The England skipper also addressed concerns about his team’s batting struggles against the new ball, emphasizing the challenges of batting after prolonged fielding sessions. He remarked on the physical and mental fatigue that players face in such situations and stressed the importance of capitalizing on future opportunities.

Amidst the defeat, wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith emerged as a bright spot for England, scoring an unbeaten 184 and 88 across both innings. Stokes praised Smith’s contributions, noting his impressive batting and underappreciated wicketkeeping skills. “Jamie’s been incredible since he came into the team. He’s been exceptional with the bat,” Stokes said, highlighting Smith’s ability to shift momentum alongside teammate Harry.

Looking ahead, Stokes mentioned that England would soon finalize their lineup for the third Test at Lord’s, set to begin on July 10. He concluded by stating that the team would take a few days to evaluate their options before making any decisions.