Big Ben Sounds Optimistic

Considered a game changer in the shorter format, Ben Stokes feels that the Eoin Morgan-led side has all the potential to win the title.

- Shayan Acharya

Ben Stokes has been part of England’s ODI set up since 2011, but he hasn’t featured in a World Cup yet.

Now, as England gets ready to host the World Cup, which begins from May 30, the 27-year-old is looking forward to the tournament.

Considered a game changer in the shorter format, Stokes feels that the EoinMorgan-led side has all the potential to win the title.

During his stint with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, Stokes spoke to Sportstar on a range of topics…

The World Cup starts right after the IPL. So, for a player, how much of a mental shift does it require to go back to a 50over format from T20s?

We have the series against Pakistan before the World Cup starts, so we have got time to get back into the swing of things with 50-over cricket. The most difficult thing is adjusting to Twenty20 cricket, since you haven’t been playing it all year, while you have been consistently playing 50-over and Test cricket through the year.

So actually, making the change to the T20 format is going to be a lot harder than going back and playing the old formats.

With England being the host, the expectations are high from all of you in the World Cup. What are the areas you will focus on to get into the mould?

You always work on your game. Every little aspect of it: batting, bowling, fielding. Everyone has been doing out here (IPL), so back in England it wouldn’t make any difference.

With a strong unit, the England batsmen have developed a tendency of going after the bowler right from the start. In conditions where it could swing and seam, how easy or difficult will it be for the side?