WE CAN RESHAPE CRICKET

Stokes: Days of rest & rotation are over for my bowlers... I’ll push them to limit

BEN STOKES says England are on a mission to “reshape Test cricket” and has vowed to continue on the front foot against India at Edgbaston today.

The skipper (right) has combined with coach Brendon McCullum to revive England’s red-ball fortunes with three stunning wins over New Zealand. And Stokes has India in his sights as he seeks to level the series in the fifth Test, postponed from last summer.

“What we have managed to do over the last three

GIVEN the full-throttle nature of Ben Stokes’ own 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 is going to take to be a part of his red-ball revolution.

After three Tests in 26 days against New Zealand, and ahead of today’s rescheduled fifth Test against India, Stokes made clear his thinking.

And 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’s about pushing them to the limit and making them understand what they are capable of doing,” said Stokes by way of explanation.

“It’s funny because bowlers have green zones, amber zones and red zones based on how much work you’ve done at the end of a Test.

“Stuart Broad 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 have Broady whose career is completely at the other end to someone like Matty Potts (left, middle). 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.” England approach this delayed series finale in a different place to when it was suspended after a Covid outbreak in the India camp with the tourists leading 2-1. At that time an England obsessed with rest and rotation – a policy which 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 representing their country and putting everything on the line,” said Stokes.

“It’s great that Jimmy Anderson (above) and Broady, who are at the latter stage of the careers, have been rejuvenated by the way we’ve gone about the summer so far.” The veteran pair might need to get to bed an hour earlier if Stokes continues to work them like he has. Broad (left, top) bowled 132 overs in three Tests against the Kiwis, more than any bowler in the series. There will be some compensations under Stokes though.

“I believe in taking the unnecessary pressures away and just making everyone feel comfortable,” he said. “We don’t even meet till 10.50am in the dressing rooms now – it’s normally a huddle out there at 10.15 during which you don’t say that much anyway, then a warm-up to sit upstairs again. I always thought that was a bit strange.

“So it’s just about letting the lads prepare how they want to prepare – at the end of the day they have to perform so just let them do what they need to do.”

„ JOS BUTTLER has been confirmed as England’s new white-ball captain. The wicketkeeper replaces World Cup-winning Eoin Morgan, who quit international cricket this week.