England’s all-rounder Ben Stokes has given his opinion on ongoing four-days Test matches which is been considered by the ICC. Stokes who came up with another dream performance in the second Test match against South Africa believes five-days cricket should always be around. The all-rounder stated that it is called ‘Test’ for a reason and it would be called easy cricket if it is pruned to four-days by the governing body.
England won the second Test match at Cape Town by 189 runs on the final day of the Test. The visitors were going for the win whereas the Proteas were fighting to save the Test match on the last day of the match. Stokes scalped three wickets in the span of 14 balls to help England draw the four-match series 1-1.
The purest form of the game should remain pristine.
Stokes had also delivered the goods with the bat. The southpaw batsman scored 47 and 72 in both the innings to help his team dominate the second game. Consequently, Stokes made a jump of five places to take the 10th place in the batsmen rankings.
An excited Stokes said in the post-match presentation, “That is why five days cricket should always be around. It is the best format of the game. Games like these are unforgettable. We will remember this for long and so will South Africa”.
The match went down to the wire and Stokes added that it proves it is an amazing game. The excitement is something else and the emotions of the fans on the final day know no bounds. Stokes added that it would be called easy cricket if it is reduced to four days.
Stokes said: “It proves why Test cricket should be five days and should stay five days.
“The fact it went to the wire proves that — it was an amazing game.”
He added: “As a spectator, it must be awesome living through the emotions over five days.
“It’s not made for four days, it’s for five. It’s called Test cricket for a reason. If they change it to four, it should be called easy cricket.”