Ben Stokes

[Durhamfootman]

no doubt there will be soooooo many reasons why Stokes was more of a liability today than match winner

along the lines of....... he cost Pune £15 per run, today, when the very best players score their runs at a cost of only £4.75 to their franchise... or something daft like that

well done Stokesy

[Arthur Crabtree]

Didn't take any catches. And it's catches that win matches.

[Making_Splinters]

He's had a couple of man of the match performances this IPL, and, obviously this was a fantastic knock. Strange how some were so ready to come out and take a pop when he had a bad final over then have stayed so quiet over his match winning performances.

[Durhamfootman]

match winning performances?

surely not

you must have bought rose tinted glasses.... most people saw an overpaid prima donna hitting a few domestic trundlers for runs off the edge of his very large, very wide bat. travesty really

[captaincolly]

Only player to have won 3 Man of the match awards so far in this years IPL if the cricinfo report is correct - previous two for bowling.

[sussexpob]

He's had a couple of man of the match performances this IPL, and, obviously this was a fantastic knock. Strange how some were so ready to come out and take a pop when he had a bad final over then have stayed so quiet over his match winning performances.

You tried the internet in South East Asia?

[meninblue]

What was impressive was a ton which was scored when team was 10/3 followed by 43/4 - Ben was not only covering up SR of Dhoni which was less than a ball by scoring his runs at high SR which was enough to cover up Dhoni's lack of runs and maintain the momentum of chase in such situation for remaining 17 overs. Sadly for Pune he will ahve to be released in the auction pool next year as the team will dissolve. However, after 3 Man Of the Matches already in just 8 or 9 matches and this ton which is one of the top 10 tons ever played in IPL plus his wickets and top notch fielding he is bound to fetch more money next auctions. Think RCB will release Gayle and Watson and look to buy Ben next year.

[Alviro Patterson]

He's had a couple of man of the match performances this IPL, and, obviously this was a fantastic knock. Strange how some were so ready to come out and take a pop when he had a bad final over then have stayed so quiet over his match winning performances.

Some of us opted to follow County Cricket and take in a Roses 50 over match containing 14 current and former internationals in less than fairweather conditions, than watch an overseas domestic competition which interferes with the English game.

[Making_Splinters]

He's had a couple of man of the match performances this IPL, and, obviously this was a fantastic knock. Strange how some were so ready to come out and take a pop when he had a bad final over then have stayed so quiet over his match winning performances.

Some of us opted to follow County Cricket and take in a Roses 50 over match containing 14 current and former internationals in less than fairweather conditions, than watch an overseas domestic competition which interferes with the English game.

I was watching the debacle that was our run chase down the local with my son, given it was on the TV and neither of us live in the North anymore. Also saw a couple of days against Surrey down at the Oval, so don't try the moral superiority trick with me.

Don't quite follow how acknowledging a fantastic performance by an England player is somehow an issue, but it does confirm exactly what I wrote above!

[rich1uk]

you cant really equate the significance of the two events tho

a MotM performance in a group game of a domestic t20 tournament is in no way as noteworthy as what happened in the final over of a global tournament

so having a go at people who criticised him for one not commenting on something they may have zero interest in doesn't really hold up either

[meninblue]

Stokes a perfect fit for our team - Smith

http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2017/content/story/1095650.html

"He's been hitting the ball really well," Smith said on Monday. "We're very happy with where he's at and how he's played. That was an amazing innings: under pressure, came in at three for nothing and to play the way he did, he timed his innings beautifully, took the game on at the right time. Fantastic knock to get us home. He hit some very clean balls there, chose the right balls to hit, too.

"He's always said from the start that he judges himself on how he plays. He's not going to put any extra pressure on himself just because he has a big price tag next to his name."

"We were very excited to get him. I had said before the auction to the guys [owners] just do what you have to to get him," Smith said. "Allrounders are so valuable in T20 cricket and he bats, bowls and fields well. He's a perfect fit for our team, particularly after Mitchell Marsh was ruled out as well. He's done a terrific job for us. We paid a big amount to get him. We know he's a quality player. [He] certainly earned his cash tonight.

[Making_Splinters]

you cant really equate the significance of the two events tho

a MotM performance in a group game of a domestic t20 tournament is in no way as noteworthy as what happened in the final over of a global tournament

so having a go at people who criticised him for one not commenting on something they may have zero interest in doesn't really hold up either

Just for reference, or clarification, I was referring to posters on here who were having a pop at Stokes for a poor over in the IPL.

[rich1uk]

you cant really equate the significance of the two events tho

a MotM performance in a group game of a domestic t20 tournament is in no way as noteworthy as what happened in the final over of a global tournament

so having a go at people who criticised him for one not commenting on something they may have zero interest in doesn't really hold up either

Just for reference, or clarification, I was referring to posters on here who were having a pop at Stokes for a poor over in the IPL.

my apologies

it wasn't clear from your comment and the first thing that sprung to mind when you mention stokes and final over was the world t20

[Durhamfootman]

Stokes certainly looks to have been a better buy than Mills

[Making_Splinters]

Good bowling from Stokes today as well.