PlayerComparisons
International Vice-Captain
Stokes has played in a much harder era so perhaps the difference is smaller than it seems
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Ben Stokes vs Ian Bell
- Thread starter PlayerComparisons
- Start date
sledger
Spanish_Vicente
I think I would group Stokes along with Flintoff, Pietersen, and Buttler as the only England players in my lifetime (I guess Botham was also technically in my lifetime, but I was too small to remember) who had/have a quicksilver-like quality, whose value and influence aren't necessarily fully reflected in their stats etc., but had/have it within them to influence/change games in ways that so many other players, many of whom are better on paper (or even objectively better, if there is such a thing), just didn't/don't have the capacity to do. Real "you can't coach that" kind of stuff.
With players like this you also inevitably get a lot of failures and disappointments, of course. The frustration of which is compounded by knowledge of how great they can be. Seems to be par for the course. But all of the above are/were absolutely remarkable talents in their own right for mine. And it might be a case of heart over head, but in a situation where the chips were really down, I'd probably pick any of them (maybe not Buttler I guess) over Ian Bell.
With players like this you also inevitably get a lot of failures and disappointments, of course. The frustration of which is compounded by knowledge of how great they can be. Seems to be par for the course. But all of the above are/were absolutely remarkable talents in their own right for mine. And it might be a case of heart over head, but in a situation where the chips were really down, I'd probably pick any of them (maybe not Buttler I guess) over Ian Bell.
no. Moments make the player
What is 155? Stokes can't even help England retain Ashes at home.
Stokes is a complete failure in Asia and Australia and that goes big time against him.
GIMH
Norwood's on Fire
His maiden ton in Perth was pretty memorable with all around him falling
That's okayish knock. England weren't chasing 500+ anyways. He averages 28 in Australia and 27 in India with bat so I would say he needs a truly special knock to cover up for such poor output.
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
Stokes has a superb record in SA but a poor one everywhere else away from England
A ton in losing knock is memorable? Did he took the total to 500 for 9 down or something ? If no then it maybe memorable for very few folks out there since he was young but not enough when that is all what you got from that part of the world in 10 years.
Yes in SA and England, he is superb. He is basically a SEN condition test cricketer. I can't rate him above Bell until he averages 38+ because two ATG knocks and an average of 35 with 13 tons won't put him above a 42 averaging batsman with 20 tons in about same number of games.
GIMH
Norwood's on Fire
A 4th innings ton at the WACA when you’re a relatively unknown quantity is memorable, yes. I don’t tend to just judge innings well if their team mates also played well. For example I think Rahul Dravid had a memorable series in England in 2011 but his team lost 4-0.
& you said earlier it’s not like England were going to win anyway. Well granted it wasn’t 500 but we weren’t going to win at Headingley in 2019 either…or we could say his knock at Lord’s last year wasn’t memorable. It’s a foolish sentiment.
Of course his record in Oz and India isn’t as good as it should be. But you said he has no memorable knocks in either place and this is not true.
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
I mean, duh
PlayerComparisons
International Vice-Captain
Yeah Stokes is arguably Englands second best player after Botham over the last 50 years. A tier or two above Bell.
PlayerComparisons
International Vice-Captain
Stokes took a 6 wicket haul on his first tour to Australia as well
I don't believe it was memorable knock. It was just a normal ton away from home in losing cause. He is not a young kid anymore. Its been 10 years and what I mean to say is that since he has never been a consistent performer and mostly known for playing occasional special knocks in between the low strings of scores he produces, he seems to be lacking that special knock in those two top countries.
Dravid had a memorable series in England because he hit three tons while other Indian players combined could barely hit any. That's special undoubtedly.
What Stokes did in 2013 Australia tour with bat was a good start for a promising youngster but it was not a memorable series or that ton in Perth was not a series defining performance.
The thread is about batting but here comes his bowling performance to his rescue.
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
Root is a much better player than Stokes