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Times
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Times
Ben Stokes: It's no longer just about entertainment, it's about winning
Ben Stokes has signalled a change in England's Bazball approach to Test cricket, admitting that his team's main purpose is not to entertain but to win matches. Stokes has led the transformation of England's Test side alongside head coach Brendon McCullum since he was appointed captain three years ago, playing an exciting brand of cricket and previously stating: 'We're in the entertainment business.' Now, as he prepares to lead his team into a five-match series against India, the 34-year-old has struck a more considered note, admitting that while England's gung-ho approach is effective when they are on top, they need to get better at regaining control when things are not going their way. 'We have had time to talk as a group, identify areas where we know that we are incredibly strong, but also identify areas that we think we need to get better at,' Stokes told the BBC. 'One of those areas was adapting better when we're up against the wall.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ben Stokes calls on England to adapt better ‘when we're up against the wall'
Ben Stokes may have described England's recent lack of Test action as 'a bit odd' but playing just one game in the past six months has given the side space to reconsider their approach before the series against India. Stokes has won 23 of his 36 games in charge while losing 12 and insisted: 'I don't think it's arrogant to say that we've been good over the last three years,' but with England's next 10 Tests coming against either India – starting at Headingley on Friday – or Australia they have prepared for potential adversity. Advertisement Related: England are right to stick with a settled top six – Bethell should follow the Lara model | Mark Ramprakash 'We've had a lot of time to speak about what we want to do as a team and where we want to take ourselves,' Stokes said. 'We've had time to identify areas where we know we are incredibly strong, but also areas that we think we need to get better at. One of those was adapting better when we're up against the wall. 'When those moments come in the series, that they no doubt will, it's identifying them a lot quicker. We know that when we are on top of teams we are very, very good, and where we maybe have let ourselves down in the past is when we have been behind the game. It's about being smarter in those situations when it's obvious that the opposition is on top of us. 'I think if [you] look at some of the victories we've had, they have been in a manner of complete dominance of the game throughout. But when we've lost we probably look back on moments. Could we have been a lot better at slowing everything down and understanding where we are in the position of the game, to then allow us to play in that natural way that we like to go about things?' Advertisement Stokes said he thinks 'conversations together in a room as a group are sometimes just as valuable as training in the nets and working harder', but he has found time for both, with his return to full fitness after an operation on his hamstring in January allowing him to work on his bowling action. 'I can't remember the last time I was able to work so hard on just technical stuff,' he said. 'To be able to get myself back to where I feel like I was before I had my injuries is really good, because there was naturally quite a few changes that crept into my action – how I was landing, how I was approaching the crease – because of my knee or because of my hamstring. It was nice to be able to get rid of those.' Stokes insisted that Ollie Pope's 171 against Zimbabwe had ended any discussion about his place in the team for this week's first Test. 'It would be remarkable to choose someone else if [his] last knock was 170,' he said. India arrive in search of their first series victory in England since 2007, having won just one of their last eight Tests and with a much-changed team, a situation their new captain, Shubman Gill, is looking at as a bonus. 'A lot of people talk like our side is not experienced, but there are also positives that we don't really have any baggage coming to England. That could be one thing that really makes a difference for us,' said Gill, who has delayed naming his team because of uncertainty over who will bat at No 3.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Ben Stokes calls on England to adapt better ‘when we're up against the wall'
Ben Stokes may have described England's recent lack of Test action as 'a bit odd' but playing just one game in the past six months has given the side space to reconsider their approach before the series against India. Stokes has won 23 of his 36 games in charge while losing 12 and insisted: 'I don't think it's arrogant to say that we've been good over the last three years,' but with England's next 10 Tests coming against either India – starting at Headingley on Friday – or Australia they have prepared for potential adversity. 'We've had a lot of time to speak about what we want to do as a team and where we want to take ourselves,' Stokes said. 'We've had time to identify areas where we know we are incredibly strong, but also areas that we think we need to get better at. One of those was adapting better when we're up against the wall. 'When those moments come in the series, that they no doubt will, it's identifying them a lot quicker. We know that when we are on top of teams we are very, very good, and where we maybe have let ourselves down in the past is when we have been behind the game. It's about being smarter in those situations when it's obvious that the opposition is on top of us. 'I think if [you] look at some of the victories we've had, they have been in a manner of complete dominance of the game throughout. But when we've lost we probably look back on moments. Could we have been a lot better at slowing everything down and understanding where we are in the position of the game, to then allow us to play in that natural way that we like to go about things?' Stokes said he thinks 'conversations together in a room as a group are sometimes just as valuable as training in the nets and working harder', but he has found time for both, with his return to full fitness after an operation on his hamstring in January allowing him to work on his bowling action. 'I can't remember the last time I was able to work so hard on just technical stuff,' he said. 'To be able to get myself back to where I feel like I was before I had my injuries is really good, because there was naturally quite a few changes that crept into my action – how I was landing, how I was approaching the crease – because of my knee or because of my hamstring. It was nice to be able to get rid of those.' Stokes insisted that Ollie Pope's 171 against Zimbabwe had ended any discussion about his place in the team for this week's first Test. 'It would be remarkable to choose someone else if [his] last knock was 170,' he said. Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion India arrive in search of their first series victory in England since 2007, having won just one of their last eight Tests and with a much-changed team, a situation their new captain, Shubman Gill, is looking at as a bonus. 'A lot of people talk like our side is not experienced, but there are also positives that we don't really have any baggage coming to England. That could be one thing that really makes a difference for us,' said Gill, who has delayed naming his team because of uncertainty over who will bat at No 3.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Gill to bat at number four as India look to fill Kohli void
India's new Test captain Shubman Gill will drop down one spot in the order to take Virat Kohli's old position at number four, vice skipper Rishabh Pant said on Wednesday ahead of their series opener against England. Kohli, who scored 9,230 runs in Tests including 30 centuries, followed former captain Rohit Sharma into retirement from the format last month. India named Gill as their new Test captain in May, picking the 25-year-old batter over pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. "I think Shubman is going to bat at number four and I'm going to stick to number five as of now," Pant told reporters. "And (the) rest, we are going to keep on discussing about that. "Obviously, it's a new start for us, big people have left. Yes, there will be a gap, but at the same time, it's an opportunity for us to build a new culture from here or take a culture forward from there, just adding to it." Pant said his friendship with Gill will help them tackle the leadership responsibilities, with their first big challenge coming up on Friday when the first Test kicks off at Leeds. "If you're good friends off the field, it eventually comes on the field. It's much better for cricket always, and that is something I've always believed in," he said. "Me and him, we get along really well together. We keep on having conversations, and the kind of comfort zone we have with each other, I think that is really going to be special for us."
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Hussey not expecting big Aussie shake-up
Cricket: Michael Hussey is not expecting Australia to make mass changes to their Test side following their defeat to South Africa.
