NO REST FOR THE WICKET TAKERS
Rotation is history as Stokes pushes players to the limit
GIVEN the full-throttle nature of Ben Stokes’ career, there was never really any doubt his captaincy would demand nothing be left in the tank.
Yet England’s bowlers are beginning to find out just how much effort it will take to be part of his red-ball revolution. Coming off the back of three Tests in 26 days against New Zealand and ahead of today’s rescheduled fifth Test against India, Stokes made clear his thinking.
According to the new skipper, the days of rest and rotation seem long gone and the new reality is picking your best XI and working them until they drop.
“It is about pushing them to the limit and making them understand what they are capable of doing,” said Stokes. “It’s funny because bowlers have your green zones, amber zones and red zones
Everybody’s enjoying putting everything on the line
based on how much work you’ve done at the end of a Test.”
Stuart Broad bowled 132 overs in three Tests against the Kiwis, more than any other player in the series, and Stokes added: “Stuart said he’s created a new zone called the burgundy zone!
“But that Test match was bigger than the result, as I keep saying I honestly believe bowling out the best team in the world with three seamers and a spinner has done everybody the world of good.
“You’ve got Broady completely at the other end to someone like Matty Potts’ career. But doing what they did that whole week was really pushing them to their limits and making them understand what they are capable of doing.
“So, yeah, just pushing them to the limit.”
Clearly England approach this delayed series finale in a different place to when it was suspended last September due to an outbreak of Covid in the India camp with the tourists leading 2-1. Back then an England obsessed with rest and rotation – a policy that reached its muddled conclusion in the Ashes – looked vulnerable. Not so under Stokes and new coach Brendon McCullum.
“Everybody’s really having fun and enjoying the fact that they’re out there representing their country and putting everything on the line,” said Stokes.
“It’s great that Jimmy [Anderson] and Broady who are at the latter stage of their careers have been rejuvenated by the way that we’ve gone about the summer so far.”
❑ JOS BUTTLER has been confirmed as England’s new white-ball captain. The 31-year-old wicketkeeper replaces World Cup-winning skipper Eoin Morgan, who retired from international cricket this week.