Stokes:3M6yPTboIyNsTaUreLTgRaAme3c6hPaTngers
BEN STOKES says England are on a mission to “reshape Test cricket” and vows to continue on the front foot against India today.
The skipper has combined with new coach Brendon McCullum to overhaul flagging red-ball fortunes with three barnstorming Test wins over New Zealand. Stokes has India in his at Edgbaston as he seeks to level the series in the turns fifth Test which was postponed from last summer. He said: “What we’ve managed to do over the past three weeks is, I don’t know, reshape Test cricket with the way we played.
“We want people to enjoy watching us play. I think people are because they
don’t know what they are going to get, but they know how we are going to play. I liken it to when the one-day team started in 2015, because they knew if they did watch us they could see something special.”
England have produced a remarkable turnaround under Stokes and McCullum, whitewashing New Zealand in thrilling style. In the first Test at Lord’s, the hosts chased 277 while at Trent Bridge they cruised to their target of 299.
At Headingley last week, Stokes’ men sealed a clean sweep with another stunning fourth innings in reaching 296.
They have become the first team to chase down 250 or more in three consecutive Tests – with three of their 12 highest targets in history having come since Stokes took over. In a warning to India, Stokes said he believes his side have untapped potential.
Asked whether they can be even more attacking, he said: “If there’s a team that can, it’s us.”
Jimmy Anderson returns to the pace attack at Edgbaston after shaking off an ankle problem with Jamie Overton dropping out.
Sam Billings will continue to deputise for Covid-stricken wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.