These are hardest conditions I've faced: Ben Stokes

AHMEDABAD: Ben Stokes couldn't hide his "disappointment" at frittering away a good start as he had defended well for almost two and half hours during the "hardest conditions" that he has ever batted in his 70-odd Test matches.

Stokes scored 55 off 121 balls before a skidder from Washington Sundar trapped him leg before on the opening day of the final Test against India.

"I am more disappointed that I actually get myself in and get out. Fifty is not really a (score) that will win you a Test match," Stokes told after day's play.

"I was very disappointed to, getting on that wicket, start feeling comfortable and then get out in the way I did especially because I spent two and a half hours protecting myself from the ball that skids on and getting out to the ball that skids on. So, I was very frustrated with myself," the all-rounder said.

"Very frustrated. After spending two and half hours, you know, playing so well, trying to avoid getting out to a straight ball and I ended up getting out to (it), that is frustrating," said the 29-year-old Christchurch-born left-handed batsman."

Stokes had no hesitation in admitting that these are the "hardest conditions" to bat on.

"Yeah, I have played 70 odd games now and I have told others in the team that this is the hardest conditions I have ever faced as a batsman and I have played all around the world.

"It is a case of finding it your own way. It is not about coming together as a group and saying this is what we need to do next. It is about how can we go away as individuals and when we come back here next time, have we progressed as an individual and a group of batsmen, because everyone plays in a different way."

Ravichandran Ashwin has made Stokes his bunny having dismissed the left-hander many times, and Stokes said that the India off-spinner was fantastic bowler but refused to read too much into it. Agencies

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