Ben Stokes has hit back at criticism of the number of overs he bowled in England’s first Test draw against West Indies.

Stokes was expected to play only a limited role with the ball at Antigua, having sustained a side strain towards the end of England’s 4-0 Ashes defeat in Australia. However, with Mark Wood injured and England chasing victory, Stokes finished the game with one of his heaviest workloads in a single Test match.

Writing in The Mirror, Stokes revealed he felt “knackered” after the game. “I sat in the changing room after the game and was absolutely knackered,” he said. “All of us had given it everything on the field and we could all be satisfied with our efforts.”

However, despite his speed noticeably dropping on the final day, he said he “felt fine to bowl”.

“I know there might have been some concerns about how many overs I bowled in the match, especially after coming back from a side injury, but I felt fine to bowl them,” he said. “In the run up to the game, I didn’t know how much I could bowl because it was still a new experience, but that is what my fitness work and preparation is for.

“I kept the area warm with stretches and each spell I bowled felt good and gave me confidence. There was no worse reaction than normal which was great.”

He also pointed to what he felt were hypocritical criticisms of England’s effort in Australia and Antigua. “Throughout the Ashes people slated us, suggesting we didn’t care, we weren’t trying or even worse that we’d somehow given up,” he said.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. We were beaten by a better team. But now that we are fighting hard to win and are closer to that happening, people want Rooty not to let me bowl even though I’m able! What do you want from us?

“It is frustrating to see the criticism levelled against us and Rooty in particular when all we are trying to do is start winning again. That is all I was concerned with, and that is where all my energies will be focused in Barbados in the next Test.”

The second Test at Bridgetown starts on Wednesday, March 16.

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