Ben Stokes Gets Bashed For Comparing Edgbaston Pitch to Subcontinent Conditions – “Cry More”

England red-ball captain Ben Stokes was criticized by fans, who urged him to be honest about the team's failures against India at Edgbaston.

Ben Stokes Gets Bashed For Comparing Edgbaston Pitch to Subcontinent Conditions – “Cry More”

Ben Stokes surprisingly claimed that India won at Edgbaston because of the pitch mirrored conditions in the 'subcontinent'. (via Sky Sports)

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England captain Ben Stokes’ recent remarks on the Edgbaston surface, following his team’s humiliating 336-run defeat to India in the second Test, have drawn a flak. The 34-year-old attributed England’s loss to the pitch, which he claimed favoured the visiting Indian side.

India side won its first Test match at the Edgbaston after 58 years, breaking a nine-match long winless streak at the venue. Displaying immense grit and resilience, the Men in Blue dominated the second Test to level the five-match series 1-1. They were guided by an impressive showing from captain Shubman Gill, and some brilliant fast bowling from the Indian pace duo of Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj.

The Edgbaston Test was indeed a high-scoring affair, with a remarkable 1,692 runs amassed across the four innings. Since 2000, only one other Test match in England has featured more runs; a 2003 encounter at Lord’s between England and South Africa, which saw a total of 1,741 runs being scored. For the Indian team in England, the highest run aggregate before this 2025 Edgbaston Test was from a drawn match in 2007, where the two teams ended with a 1,681 runs in total.

Meanwhile, for England, the margin of defeat in Edgbaston last night exposed their bowling as well as batting units, as they managed to only score 678 runs across both the innings on a flat track where India scored 1,014 runs. Furthermore, there was a glaring contrast in the bowling displays of the two sides, as the Indian bowlers, despite the surface, claimed all 20 wickets, while the home side only managed 16.

However, England captain Ben Stokes was quick to shug off criticism, emphasising on other factors that led to the team’s defeat to India. Stokes claimed that the Edgbaston pitch favored the visitors as it played out more like tracks in the Indian ‘subcontinent’.

He explained that there was some help for England at the start, but it got tough later on, and added that the Indian bowling attack, being accustomed to the conditions and knowing how to exploit them, managed to do a little better.

England were at a strong position on Day 1 and could have dismissed India for a below-par total, with the visitors reeling at 211 for 5. However, the Men in Blue recovered quickly, eventually scoring 587 runs in the first innings. Nonetheless, Ben Stokes’ comments did not go down well with English fans, who labeled them as ‘excuses’ and lambasted the captain for attempting to take credit away from the Indian team. 

To be honest, it’s probably ended up being more of a subcontinent pitch as it’s got deeper and deeper into the game… They were used to and used some to expose those conditions, just sort of a little bit better.

Ben Stokes told BBC’s Test Match Special (H/T: FirstPost)

With the five-match Test series now tied, both India and England will be looking to gain an advantage when they face off in the third Test at Lord’s, beginning June 10. For this upcoming match, Stokes’ side has brought in fast bowler Gus Atkinson to strengthen their pace attack.

Fans Slam Ben Stokes’ ‘Subcontinent Conditions’ Excuse Following Edgbaston Defeat

England cricket team fans and critics took to social media to slam Ben Stokes’, after his ‘subcontinent conditions’ remark aimed at India’s well-deserved 336-run victory over the Three Lions at Edgbaston. Stokes controversially claimed that the pitch did not really suit his English side. 

Ben Stokes fans slam
Ben Stokes was slammed by cricket fans for his ‘subcontinent conditions’ remark. (via X screengrab)

Fans highlighted the 18 wickets taken by Indian fast bowlers, compared to just nine by England’s pacers, which they pointed out, displayed the home side’s shortcomings with the new ball, and was the reason for their defeat. Some others believed England simply could not match India’s performance, urging Stokes to be honest and acknowledge his errors, particularly his decision to field after winning the toss.

A few of the fans argued that the 34-year-old England captain should have blamed his spinners and pacers for their lack of a ‘cutting edge’ against India, rather than blaming the pitch. Consequently, the Three Lions will now be reassessing their strategies in preparation for the third Test.