In a surprising show of reward, former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting has in contrast England captain Ben Stokes‘ match-winning capabilities to the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Ponting lauded Stokes for his capability to thrive underneath strain and lead his group to victory, very similar to Dhoni did throughout his illustrious profession.

Stokes as soon as once more showcased his outstanding expertise by virtually single-handedly steering England to a series-leveling win within the second Ashes Check at Lord’s. His excellent knock of 155 runs off 214 balls left an enduring impression on Ponting, who had beforehand witnessed Stokes’s heroics within the 2019 Ashes, the place he performed a pivotal function in England’s one-wicket triumph at Leeds with an unbeaten 135.

Talking on The ICC Overview, Ponting admitted that Stokes’s earlier match-winning innings at Headingley in 2019 was firmly etched in his reminiscence. The previous Australian captain expressed reduction when Australia lastly dismissed the damaging England talisman for 155 runs within the current Lord’s Check.

Whereas discussing Stokes’s influence, Ponting drew a comparability to the indomitable Dhoni, who was identified for his calm and composed demeanor in strain conditions. Ponting highlighted the rarity of gamers who constantly discover themselves within the place to clinch victories, significantly as captains, and emphasised that Stokes’s performances in Check matches set him aside.

“I assumed and everybody in all probability thought he might do it once more as a result of we’ve seen it occur earlier than, however this was in all probability, barely extra runs that they have been chasing (in 2019),” stated Ponting.

“The primary one which involves thoughts is perhaps somebody like a Dhoni, who’s there on the finish in loads of T20 video games, and ending video games, whereas Ben’s doing it on the finish of Check matches, and there’s not, in all probability not many, many gamers via the historical past of the sport which have discovered themselves in that type of function and are there on the finish profitable video games, and particularly as a captain,” he added.

Ponting’s comparability highlights the immense respect and admiration that Stokes has garnered throughout the cricketing fraternity. Along with his distinctive talents to affect the result of matches, Stokes continues to etch his title among the many elite performers of the sport. Trailing 2-0 behind within the ongoing Ashes, it will be attention-grabbing to see how Stokes-led English facet will reply within the third Check.