Ben Stokes clarifies the 'Favourites' tag for the English team in Champions Trophy

The big lanky all-rounder from Christchurch Ben Stokes left the Indian Premier League after the tournament had reached the knockout stage for which his team Rising Pune Supergiant had qualified. In his absence the team could not muster enough strength to cross the finishing line in the final, losing to the Mumbai Indians by one run.

The all-rounder spoke to Cricket Australia (CA), where he described extensively about how the Australian captain had helped him with his batting, despite the Englishman holding the record for the fastest double hundred in the longest form of the game. He also revealed that the competition gave him the toughness and the push ahead of the Home Champions Trophy.

England deserving favourites

The 25-year-old believes that England, who are just back from the four-day camp at Spain where they prepared for the 2015 Ashes deserve to be called ‘favourites’ for the tournament on home soil despite their ODI ranking is only fifth.

“I think we’re the favourites going into the tournament and we’ve earned the right with how we’ve played over the last two years,” said the 25-year-old to CA when asked about the English team getting the ‘Favourites tag’ this year.

Stokes alongside wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler was criticised for missing the playoffs by the former English captain Kevin Pietersen over the air and spending time in Spain.

“We’ve been amazing and we go into this knowing teams are maybe fearing us. But we’re keeping our feet firmly on the ground. We just know as long as we play to our capabilities we’re in with a good chance,” said the Durham player.

The English team would vary of the threat posed by the top three nations of the world, who very well could knock the home side out of the tournament in fair belief. The home team face the test of Bangladesh on the 1st of June, before facing New Zealand and arch-rivals Australia on the 6th and 10th June respectively.