Ben looks to future... like Klopp
Fifth and final Test, Dharamsala, Thursday. India lead series 3-1 BY GARY FITZGERALD BEN STOKES and Brendon Mccullum have taken a big stride in India to create the kind of youth-driven legacy that Jurgen Klopp plans to leave at Anfield.
That is according to former England Test bowler Angus Fraser.
England are 3-1 down in the five-test series, so have just pride to play for in the final clash in Dharamsala starting on Thursday.
Yet the emergence of the likes of 20-year-old Shoaib Bashir and fellow spinner Tom Hartley, 24, show the future is bright.
Liverpool fan Fraser said: “I went to Wembley the other day to watch the Liverpool kids win the Carabao Cup.
“Klopp is brave as a manager because he puts young players into real big, pressure situations – and he backs them all the way.
“Possibly his greatest legacy may well be that he’s leaving a lot of really talented young players at the club for the next person to take over and keep the
success going. You can see how Stokes and Mccullum are trying to do the same with the England Test team.
“They are trying to produce a generation of very good cricketers who can carry on competing well and winning games.
“Both Bashir and Hartley have really taken to the tough Test environment very easily.
“They won’t get it right all the time. They will make mistakes at times, due to emotional tiredness rather than physical, but they will be right up there going blow-for-blow with the likes of India and Australia.
“It is such an important thing to create the right environment for these young guys to develop in.
“It means that they can feel comfortable and express themselves on and off the field.
“England have competed really well against India, beyond the fact that they have lost the series. They have just been outgunned.”