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Stokes wants England to shut out the noise after Third Test thrashing
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Adam Drury
LiveScore
Ben Stokes' England were hammered by India in the Third Test
Ben Stokes' England were hammered by India in the Third Test

England captain Ben Stokes insists his team must ignore external opinions after criticism of their humbling Third Test defeat to India.

The tourists were rapidly bowled out for 122 on day four and lost by an enormous 434-run margin after Rohit Sharma's side had declared on 430-4.

Yashasvi Jaiswal's stunning double century earned him the player of the match award.

The defeat means England trail the five-match series 2-1 ahead of the Fourth Test, which starts on Friday in Ranchi.

Critics pointed to their recklessness with the bat in both innings but Stokes insists the only voices he is interested in are those of team-mates and coaches.

He said: "Everyone's got a perception and opinion about things.

"The people in the dressing room are the only opinions that matter to us.

"Things didn't work out exactly how we wanted them to but we're 2-1 down in the series with two games left. We've got a chance to come home with a series win at 3-2."

The visitors were alive in the game at the end of day two, with Ben Duckett's sensational century — the second-fastest by an England opener in Test history — setting up a score of 207-2 in response to India's 455.

But the hosts soon seized control and their skipper Sharma was proud of the way his side responded to Duckett's innings.

He said: "Test cricket is not played over two or three days, we know the importance of staying in the game for five days.

"They put us under pressure but we've got class in our squad when it comes to bowling. The message was to stay calm, it's easy to drift away from what you want to do.

"I'm proud of how we came back. We showed a lot of character."

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