'He handled criticism very well' - AB de Villiers lavishes praise on 'incredible' Ben Stokes

Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers engaged in a captivating discussion with his ex-teammate Shaun Pollock around the ongoing Ashes series. Notably, Australia claimed victory in the first two matches before hosts England won the third match to keep the series alive.

De Villiers lavished praise on English captain Ben Stokes, acknowledging his all-round prowess. The South African legend spared no superlatives when describing Stokes, commending his multifaceted skills and exemplary leadership on the field.

When asked by a fan during the show about his opinion on Stokes' abilities as a batter and bowler, de Villiers replied, "Oh, that's an easy question, I think he's an incredible cricket player. You see, we watched him in that last Test match, how calm he was. Actually, all the Test matches, I can tell you now, to lose the first two Test matches in the five-match series is very nerve-wracking but he was always just calm, especially losing that second one so close."

De Villiers continued to express his admiration for Stokes, acknowledging the criticism the English captain faced from commentators but highlighting how well Stokes handled it. "I know he caught some criticism from the commentators, which I thought was a bit harsh because it's very easy to keep criticism when you tunnel down in a series and things are not going your way. But I thought Ben Stokes handled it very well.

He said that Stokes is a fantastic batter and a fantastic bowler who can take the game away from the opposition with both bat and ball. And now he is showing us his caliber as a captain also. “What a player," de Villiers exclaimed, clearly impressed by Stokes' ability to excel in multiple facets of the game.

De Villiers' comments shed light on Stokes' composure and resilience in the face of challenging circumstances, underscoring his pivotal role in resurrecting England's fortunes in the Ashes series. Coming from a cricketer of de Villiers' stature and expertise, these words carry significant weight. As the Ashes series unfolds further, all eyes will undoubtedly remain fixated on Stokes, as he continues to prove himself as an invaluable asset to the English team.