Every cricket fan enjoys a good hero story (and Ben Stokes has been in many). Stokes, the player, has been mesmerizing on countless occasions, from the Ashes miracle to World Cup heroics. When it comes to Captain Stokes, the love is not reciprocal. Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has quite astutely articulated what many of us have been thinking: Is the Stokes captaincy more sizzle than steak?
Where Were the Catchers, Skipper? A Field Day for Critics
It was day four in Edgbaston, and the Indian batters were edging the ball as often as a razor ad. Stokes’s only logic for a slip was that he had no urgency. Mohammad Kaif, galvanizing the masses, wasted no time sewing, with an all-time viral post, he encouraged everyone to let him know if he missed any “hidden masterstrokes” of leadership.
Admittedly, field placements are subjective, but when a captain can repeatedly choose not to build pressure, it raises eyebrows. This lack of attacking fields was not an isolated occurrence; it has become an ongoing trend during Stokes’ time as captain. It looks even worse when the bowling unit is creating opportunities, which then come to nothing as they are just dropped on an empty patch of the ground.
The Golden Duck and the Missing Firepower
Leadership is not just about making important speeches and supporting players. Unfortunately for England, Stokes again could not demonstrate that—again. After paltry scores of 20 and 33 in the first Test, the second Test brought a merciless truth: a golden duck. Thanks to the bastard Mohammed Siraj and a short ball that bounced more than err, expected, Stokes was sent packing.
No one’s asking for a fifty every time you walk out there. But if your team is struggling and you’re the captain, a fight can certainly alter the mood. Stokes’ dismissal only added to the notion that his current role is not firing on either front; bat or brain.
The problem isn’t about one failure. It is about the bigger picture. Since he became Test captain in 2022, England’s record under Stokes is: 21 wins, 12 losses, and 1 draw. Not terrible, but not revolutionary. Plus, it’s not as if they even made the WTC final this cycle.
Star Power vs Strategic Smarts: Is Stokes Being Oversold?
This is the thing—Ben Stokes is charismatic. He strides into the field like he owns it, and with it comes confidence that is infectious. But charisma alone does not win you Test matches. This is exactly Kaif’s point: maybe the hype around Stokes the leader is a carryover from his heroics or performances as a player.
Look at Headingley, England winning the first Test of the series was ultimately down to their batting line-up, not any masterstrokes from their captain. When the going got tough at Headingley, Stokes similarly did something exceptional with the ball, like his wonderful 4 wickets in India’s first innings. But those moments of magic feel like isolated brilliance, rather than the products of shrewd captaincy.
You might counter that the “Bazball” era is about being aggressive, instinctive, and fearless on the field. But instinct can quickly look like just improvisation without any foresight, and the critics, like Kaif, were always going to voice their opinion.
So, has the world mixed up Ben Stokes’ on-field brilliance with leadership brilliance? Mohammad Kaif certainly thinks so. And whilst the fans may call it harsh, there are enough statistics – and recent on-field judgment calls – to give at least some weight to the criticism.
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