STOKES: LET ME BENTERTAIN YOU

Skipper returns to scene of his 2019 heroics and wants more magic

BEN STOKES has promised five days of pure entertainment from England as they target a first home series whitewash in more than a decade.

In a rallying call on the eve of the third Test against New Zealand at Headingley, the skipper told his troops they must be entertainers first and cricketers second in trying to replicate the sort of magic they produced at Trent Bridge. “I’ve said to the

IF it was any other cricketer you would think there was nowhere left to go.

But when Ben Stokes says that he wants his team to deliver even more entertainment on the ground where he produced his greatest show on turf in 2019, then who are we to doubt him?

This week marks Stokes’ first visit back to the Leeds ground since that sun-kissed afternoon, when the Aussies only had balls to fetch and bins to kick as he and Jack Leach stole a game they had no right to – with Stokes smashing 135 not out.

The 31-year-old demonstrated his leadership qualities throughout that summer.

Today he returns as captain, hellbent on making his personal style of cricket England’s style of cricket, which should come as great news for those with tickets for the third Test against New Zealand.

Victory and a clean sweep, played in the same high-octane way, would represent an incredible achievement for skipper Stokes and underline the message of exactly how he wants his team to play the game.

He said: “They actually had the highlights from 2019 on the big screen in practise here which was quite nice to look back on.

“That was a cracking day and it is the first time playing here since that Test match, so it is amazing how fast time goes.

“There are some great memories for me at Headingley and we’ve got a good record here as a team. It’s always a great place to play as an England cricketer.

“But it is another game we are starting so the message is simple to the team – for us to think of ourselves as being in the entertainment business this week.

“We’re still yet to have a bad result. When things don’t go too well then the message we are trying to get across will be even more important.

“There is still a long way to go for us, but we want to keep going the way we have and playing that brand of cricket, and hopefully we can come away with a 3-0 result.”

James Anderson is struggling with an ankle injury, so Stokes will be able to turn to the extra pace of Jamie Overton (left) in his bid to keep the thrills coming. With his trio of genuine quick bowlers – Jofra

Archer, Mark

Wood and Olly Stone

– all unavailable for fitness reasons, he should be able to add a fourth to the list with Overton making his Test debut.

He might not be quite as rapid as the other three, but Overton is the fastest England have had on show this summer and Stokes is excited about what he could offer.

“When you bowl 90 miles an hour, it’s fast,” he said. “So I’m excited to see Jamie operate this week and hopefully he can show the world what he’s been doing for Surrey.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to look at an

England side with someone who can bowl fast in it.

“We all know how big a role pace can play, especially when the wicket is flat and you’re looking to break a partnership.

“It is a great thing to have in your back pocket.” Much like a ticket today at Headingley.