Plan to counter Stokes

WELLINGTON: New Zealand players expect Ben Stokes’s leadership to galvanise England but intend to make life as difficult as possible for the new skipper in the coming test series, head coach Gary Stead says.

New Zealandborn Stokes replaced Joe Root as test captain last week, as England seeks a swift turnaround after managing only one win in its last 17 matches.

The combative 30yearold’s first assignment will be to turn the tables on New Zealand in the threetest series starting at Lord’s on June 2, a year after England lost 10 to the Black Caps while Stokes was taking a break from cricket.

‘‘Look, I imagine that he will bring . . . there will be an immediate steel to their group,’’ Stead said yesterday.

‘‘I think the abrasive way that he plays will probably rub off on to the group as well.

‘‘What we will be trying to do is make things very, very hard for Ben Stokes as immediately as we can and if we can do that, then hopefully that might nullify the strength of the English.

‘‘But they are still a quality team.’’

New Zealand’s World Test Championship defence is on shaky ground after tying home series against South Africa and Bangladesh, with regular captain and top batsman Kane Williamson sidelined with an longstanding elbow injury.

Williamson, however, has been batting in the Indian Premier League and was included in an extended squad for the England tour on Monday.

Stead was sure the 31yearold would be fit to captain the side in the first Lord’s test.

‘‘He’s going really well.

‘‘I’ve talked to him regularly, the last week or so,’’ and he’s got no issues at all.’’ — Reuters