We’re capable of scoring more than 300 on a wicket like this: Ben Stokes

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has admitted that the way the visitors batted was frustrating but also defended the team selection. England were bundled out for 205 in the first innings of the fourth Test in Ahmedabad on Thursday. 

Stokes who top-scored with 55 said that the pitch is a better one as compared to the last match. 

“We felt that seam isn’t going to offer as much in terms of being a threat, it’s more of a holding role,” Stokes said.

“It’s definitely a better wicket than the last Test match. I think as the day progressed, you could see that the ball started to spin more, and had more bounce…In the previous match, spinners claimed 28 of the 30 wickets that tumbled in five sessions.”

Stokes added that the side is capable of scoring more than 300 runs on this kind of a track. 

“We’re more than capable of scoring more than 300 on a wicket like that out here, it’s frustrating,” Stokes added.

England trail the four-match series 1-2 and have been knocked out of the WTC after they lost the third match at the Narendra Modi Stadium. India, on the other hand, need to either win or draw this game to make a place for themselves in the final of WTC. 

But if the home side suffers a defeat in this match then Australia will march into the final and will be up against New Zealand in the title clash at Lord’s. 

India ended Day 1 at 24/1 with Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara still at the crease. Earlier, Axar Patel scalped four wickets while R Ashwin picked up three in the first innings.