Ben Stokes expressed frustration after England failed to clinch a Test series win against India but stood firmly behind teammate Harry Brook, whose dismissal triggered a late collapse in a gripping series finale.
India edged out England by six runs in the fifth and final Test on Monday, sealing a 2-2 series draw. Mohammed Siraj took three of the final four wickets to fall on the decisive morning at The Oval.
England had been well-positioned at 301-3 on Sunday in pursuit of a challenging 374-run target, with Brook and Joe Root both scoring centuries and looking comfortable at the crease. But the momentum shifted dramatically when Brook, after a fluent 111, miscued an uncharacteristic shot to mid-off, marking the start of a collapse in which England lost seven wickets for just 66 runs.
“It’s been toe-to-toe pretty much for 25 days,” said Stokes, who missed the final match due to a shoulder injury. “From a cricket fan’s point of view, 2-2 is probably fair. Obviously, we’re disappointed not to get the result we wanted.”
Despite the match slipping away after Brook’s dismissal, Stokes defended the 26-year-old, who was one of England’s standout performers in the series, amassing 481 runs with two centuries.
“Harry got us into that position by playing the way he does — aggressive, positive, putting the Indian bowlers under pressure,” Stokes said. “I’m sure everyone was applauding when he brought up his hundred. Some of the shots were simply unbelievable.”
Stokes also acknowledged the impact of six dropped catches during India’s second innings, noting they could have been decisive in such a closely fought contest.
“You can look at so many moments in a five-day Test and say ‘what if,’” he added. “But yes, the dropped chances definitely cost us. Just like in Headingley, when India dropped catches and we went on to win.”
Looking ahead, Stokes said the England team is in a “strong place” as preparations begin for the Ashes series in Australia starting this November.
“Some of the lads have domestic commitments with The Hundred and ODIs,” he said. “But I’ll be focusing entirely on building towards the Ashes. We’ve got time on our side to prepare properly.”
Despite the disappointment, the thrilling conclusion reaffirmed England’s competitive edge under Stokes’ leadership — and set the stage for another fiery Ashes campaign later this year.
