Requested on Wednesday evening about his poker face whereas answering questions on the time, Stokes mentioned: “Clearly I have been requested lots about my knee over an extended time period, so I simply mentioned that to depart it. I knew that I would be taking part in in these video games and probably within the World Cup then once I mentioned that, however it was simply the best factor to say that and put you [the press] off the radar.”
Having walked out at 13 for two within the third over, Stokes’ innings was the longest and largest of his ODI profession. He mentioned that it had supplied a very good reminder that fifty overs lasted a very long time. “You could have far more time than you assume,” he mentioned. “When it comes to sport consciousness and sport smartness, immediately was good for that.
“Right now was good for me personally, simply to get familiarity once more with how 50-over cricket goes. We began off and misplaced just a few fast wickets, then wished to exit and put them underneath a little bit of strain. There have been a few occasions I needed to test myself as a result of I appeared up and there have been nonetheless 23-24 overs left – that is how one-day cricket can go.
“The factor that I got here to grasp all through the innings was how a lot time there truly is. There have been a few phases the place I used to be scoring fairly freely and felt like I wished to maintain on going and going and going, however realising what number of overs I had was the large factor for me.”
He mentioned that he has not modified his method since shifting to No. 4, however admitted that taking part in as a specialist batter over the following few months has prompted a mentality shift as regards to his batting.
“That is the primary time that I have been clear in my thoughts that that is the one factor I can deal with,” he mentioned. “I feel over the past 18 months, every single day has been, ‘will I bowl, will I not bowl?’ Now, I do know that I can simply deal with that… that is my factor for the crew now. Having that readability in my head contributes to that.
“I would desire to not go in that early as a result of I wish to see the opposite lads on the prime do properly. I do not assume I’ve essentially modified my method in one-day cricket from all of the years I spent at No. 5 or 6… I nonetheless assume that batting at No. 4, I will exit with the very same method I had at No. 5.”
