When England all-rounder Ben Stokes scored that epic 258 against South Africa in Cape Town in the New Year Test of 2016, comparisons with legendary Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff were inevitable.
"Probably in 15 years' time, someone else will come, bat and bowl, and is said exactly the same – 'this is the next Fred', 'this is the next Botham'. You just have to live with it. I don't look at it (comparisons) at all. I try not to be them and not emulate them. I try to be myself," Stokes said at an England team media event in the city recently.
Stokes was aware that the comparisons would start once he started to excel in batting and bowling. "It (comparison) started when I began playing county cricket for Durham. Just because I could bat and bowl, media says 'we've got another Flintoff'. It's something that I had to cope with over the last year. I am not living up to them, not trying to be them," Stokes reiterated.
After Stokes scored the fastest 250 ever in Tests, off just 196 balls, and the fastest 200 (off 163 balls) by an Englishman, Botham could not help but recall his unforgettable 1981 Headingley Test against Australia, also known as 'The Botham Test'.
Unlike that 1981 Test in which Botham singlehandedly took England to victory from a precarious position, Stokes' knock came in a drawn game as South Africa also batted on and on.
But that does not take away from Stokes, who bats left-handed and bowls right-arm medium-pace, the fact that he is England's match-winner with the bat or with the ball. And, when he can do both in the same match, he will be unstoppable.
That said, the 24-year-old Stokes, born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and plays county cricket for Durham in England, has not really set afire the T20 stage. His T20 statistics in only 11 matches so far may look ordinary when compared with the corresponding runs and wickets in Tests and ODIs.
But Stokes is determined to give his best shot in the ICC World T20, his first major tournament in Three Lions crest.
He has inherited his aggressive style of cricket – "See ball, hit ball is the only way to describe it (258)" Stokes famously said of his 258 – from his father Gerard, who played rugby and also coached it in New Zealand.
"I used to see my dad train every single night. I was around a professional sport team from a young age. That's where the passion and everything came from. I am an all-round professional trying to be the best that could be.
My dad was the same when he played. A lot of them came down the genes from the old man. I just always wanted to win, just wanted to do my best," said Stokes.
Stokes is on his first trip to India. Other than captain Eoin Morgan, none of the other England players have the experience of playing in IPL. Stokes said that being able to play in T20 leagues outside England would help.
"We all want to play in these competitions. The English tournament is not strong as it is anywhere else in the world. It is nice if that changes. We want that to happen as well. In terms of timing wise, it doesn't help us. Our (English) season starts when IPL starts. Tough to get out of there. We've to also look at the schedule, how much cricket we play. A couple of guys in this team have been to the IPL. I don't think it (not playing in IPL) matters massively. If we did manage to play in these competitions, it'd help," Stokes said.
But the experience of playing in Sri Lanka and UAE, and having the likes of retired players Mahela Jayawardene and Paul Collingwood in the coaching staff will help Stokes adapt to the Indian conditions.
"We have got guys who've not played here, haven't got the experience here. We have to use this build up to the tournament and understand what the best way to play cricket is," Stokes said.
"The experience Colly has got is a massive bonus to all of us. We have an inexperienced team compared with others. He won a lot with England, played a lot of limited overs for England. Now when you have that guy in the change room is a massive help. In terms of work ethics, he is brilliant.
"Mahela came over to us in Dubai. I know he is a massive help in terms of the way we approach the way to play spin. The little things these guys give you by talking to you stay with you. When you have guys who have played for years and years, in the dressing is a big help."
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