World Test Championship is a bit confusing: Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes (Twitter)

With nine wins out of 19 games, England are sixth on the World Test Championship points table. They have a 40.79-point percentage and with that, qualifying for the final in 2025 looks impossible at the moment. Speaking on the same, captain Ben Stokes stated that he fails to understand the WTC concept and barely thinks about the competition, rather just wants to focus on game by game.

The all-rounder added that if England play good and consistent cricket in a cycle, they will eventually qualify for the final but it is not something that the current batch of cricketers focuses on. He also highlighted that the Three Lions play more Test matches than any other nation and that they can’t keep thinking about WTC, rather than the series in hand.

“In all honesty, the World Test Championship, it is a bit confusing, it’s one of those where, you know we don’t really look at it, I don’t look at it. It’s one of those where over a long period of time if you’re playing really good cricket, you’re getting results that you want, you’ll end up finding yourself there in the final and in the mix,” Stokes said.

Also Read – Next 12 to 14 months will define the Stokes-McCullum era: Alastair Cook

“I can’t remember if I’ve ever even given any real time to be specifically thinking about the World Test Championship to be honest because it’s utterly confusing, we play a lot more cricket than anyone else does, that’s just what we try and focus on, you know, if we play well, we’ll be there or thereabouts but if we don’t, then we won’t be,” he added.

England are currently touring New Zealand for a three-match Test series. On Day 1, the hosts batted well and courtesy of Kane Williamson’s 93, New Zealand posted 319/8. Shoaib Bashir was the star bowler for England, picking up a four-wicket haul.