England captain Ben Stokes has been at the heart of his side’s spirited showing in the ongoing five-Test series against India, both with his performance and leadership. As the series heads towards a dramatic finale, Stokes’ handling of key players like Jofra Archer has drawn praise, especially from former skipper Nasser Hussain.
Speaking on Sky Sports Cricket after the fourth Test ended in a gripping draw at Old Trafford, Hussain pointed out the trust and chemistry between Stokes and Archer, who made his Test comeback in the third match at Lord’s.
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“I like the fact that Ben knows what makes Jofra Archer tick. There’s a huge amount of respect between the two,” Hussain said.
He recalled a moment from the third Test where Stokes was seen having a sharp word with Archer before lightening the mood with a smile and embrace. This was a clear reflection of the skipper’s balanced leadership.
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“At Lord’s, exactly the same happened. Stokes has that mentality – I’m your friend and I’ll look after you, but I’m not your best friend. If you don’t quite get it right, I will have a word with you,” Hussain explained.
“He’ll know what makes Archer tick and I think Archer is actually a better bowler when he is a bit fired up and his legs start pumping a little bit,” he added.