Ben Stokes would relish more responsibility with the ball against Pakistan

Stokes said that he is ready to don the role of being England’s third seamer

Ben Stokes said that he would love the role of being England’s third seamer during the Tour of Pakistan in UAE starting this month, reported ESPNcricinfo. The all-rounder revealed that they have been working on reverse swing bowling but acknowledged that the upcoming series will be a challenging one.

Touted as the next Andrew Flintoff, Stokes, made his Test debut during the whitewash England suffered during the 2013 Ashes tour in Australia, emerging as the only glimmer of hope in what was otherwise a totally forgettable series for the visitors. He has grown by leaps and bounds since and has now matured into an all-rounder who is equally adept with both bat and bowl.

Stokes, who bowls right-arm fast medium, admits that the conditions in the UAE should mean he might not be needed as much as he was used in England, but is ready to give his best whenever called upon.

"There will be a lot more responsibility on me when I come on to bowl," Stokes said. "I might not bowl as much as I have in the summer, because it's more friendly to spinners out there, but when I do get the ball I'll have to realise how much expectation there is on me as a third seamer because it's hot, hard conditions to be a seam bowler in the UAE. I like added responsibility and think it brings the best out of my cricket."

Stokes has picked up 40 wickets in 16 Test matches and would want to improve on his form with England’s next international assignment following the series against Pakistan being the tour to South Africa where the pitches are seamer friendly. The 24-year-old has been extremely potent in the last few games with his reverse swing and he revealed that the team has been working on improving their bowling.

"We do a lot of work with reverse swing leading up to tours where it can reverse so we will probably be doing quite a lot of work on that leading up to the Test series. Most of us know the characteristics and skills of reverse swing," Stokes said.

Stokes is wary of the conditions that England are likely to encounter in the UAE but is hopeful that the series outcome will be a much better one than the 3-0 whitewash they suffered at the hands of their opponents last time out in the UAE in 2010.

"We've had two series at home in our conditions which we all know, so the big thing for us is we are going to play in foreign conditions," he said. "UAE will be the most challenging one, last time we didn't do very well, but you want to test yourself against the best in the world in the hardest conditions."?