Michael Hussey Tips Ben Stokes To Excel In ICC Champions Trophy 2017
May 10, 2017 at 3:17 PM
Australia veteran batsman Mike Hussey, who also led the national side, has predicted that England’s all-rounder Ben Stokes will prove himself handy both with bat and a ball in England and Wales during the upcoming ICC Champion Trophy 2017 event which is starting from June 1.
Hussey after watching Stokes doing well in the ongoing Twenty20 league feels he would give his best shot, in the home conditions against formidable opponents, as the tournament is comprised of eight teams in total.
“I’ve watched him in India in the IPL and he’s playing really well. I feel like his batting has improved immeasurably, he’s now starting to really work it out,” Mike Hussey was quoted by cricket.com.au.
Known as ‘Mr. Cricket’ Hussey stated the remarkable century from Stokes against Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Lions reminded him of the blazing innings of former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener in the 1999 World Cup in England when star all-rounder was also adjudged Man of the Tournament.
Hussey further said Stokes is getting better with every game after gaining some amount of experience in the middle with the national side England while adding he has been delivering at its best in the shorter format of the game.
“And with experience he’s getting better as a short-form bowler as well, he’s more confident in his own ability,” Hussey said.
After initial failures with the bat, Stokes rose to the occasion by giving his best with the bat which also included a five-wicket win over off-colour Gujarat Lions.
“He’s an incredible talent, incredible power. Once he starts figuring the game out in the mind, how he plays best and with a bit more experience it’s a really dangerous combination,” Hussey asserted.
Grabbing the headlines, in his maiden IPL season, Stokes has so far played 10 matches in which he has amassed 283 runs at the average of 31.44 and has bagged 10 wickets at an average of 27.50 with an economy of 7.43.
Interestingly, the 25-year-old Stokes was the highest paid cricketer in the IPL Players Auction 2017 at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Bengaluru on February 20, this year when English all-rounder was sold to Rising Pune Supergiant for whooping INR 14.5 crore.
“All the assets are there and if his confidence is up and gets the opportunity to play well then he could get on a roll and be really hard to stop,” Hussey concluded.
The Christchurch-born Stokes, who made his international debut in 2011, has played 53 One-day Internationals, 32 Tests and 21 Twenty20 Internationals for England. He has bagged 135 wickets and further scored 3,338 across all three formats so far.