Ben Stokes’ eyebrow-raising demand flips Ashes on its head

Ben Stokes’ eyebrow-raising demand flips Ashes on its head

England captain Ben Stokes has made a requirement for “flat, fast” wickets for this yr’s Ashes showdown with Australia to assist his staff’s “Bazball” recreation plan which has turned Test cricket on its head.

Stokes has informed groundsmen round England precisely what he desires to offer his staff one of the best likelihood of reclaiming the urn after drawing the final Ashes within the UK 2-2 then dropping in Australia 4-0.

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England has gone a Test-winning tear below new coach Brendon McCullum recording victories in 10 of the previous 12 matches with an electrical scoring price of 4.76 runs per over, the best of the 11 nations to have performed Test cricket.

Curators on the 5 venues internet hosting Tests have been informed to provide pitches conducive to England‘s style of play, although it may also play into Australia’s palms given not solely do they possess a faster bowling assault however the Aussies are used to pacy wickets.

The transfer may additionally present a possibility for veteran opener David Warner to push past the Test Championship last, having not been assured his place within the Ashes by choice boss George Bailey.

Warner made simply 95 runs within the 2015 Ashes and was regularly undone by England’s swing and seam assault.

But Stokes was clear the wickets have been one of the best ways for his staff to win.

“We’ve been very clear, especially with the ground staff around England, about what type of wickets we want,” Stokes informed Sky Sports

”And they’ve been very attentive to us which has been good.

“We want fast, flat wickets. We want to go out there and score quickly. It brings their [Australia‘s] guys in: if they’ve got fast wickets to bowl on then they’ll be happy with that as well.”

Tests will probably be performed at Edgbaston, Lord‘s, Old Trafford, Headingley and The Oval and Stokes has made it clear there will be no departure from their attacking game style.

“There‘s no point changing just because we’re coming into an Ashes collection,” he mentioned.

“Every player knows the Ashes is where everything ramps up a bit – pressure, exposure, all kinds of stuff – but we’ll just keep sticking to what we do.”

Stokes mentioned he wouldn’t accept a drawn collection, or attracts in any video games, if he and his staff had their manner.

“Hold me to it. Every game I play this summer will be to produce a result,” he mentioned.

“I‘m not going to change anything just because it’s the Ashes. I’m not going to change for anything or any situation, because then I’m not being true to myself and what I’ve done over the last year.”

Stokes has battled his personal accidents points along with his left knee however mentioned he was “pain-free” throughout his final Indian Premier League outing and can be prepared for the Ashes.

“I‘ve worked so hard over the last month, five weeks, to get where I am now,” he mentioned.

“Being able to bowl pain-free – touch wood – has been good. Even (though that over), I went for 18 runs, but I was like ’oh I managed to bowl an over without pain in my knee’.

“The main priority for me is making sure that I can fulfil my role as fourth seamer in the Ashes.

“I‘ve had some good conversations with the people who are employed to look after us, body-wise. I said I’ll be doing everything I can whilst I’m in India to make sure that when we get to the Ashes, I’ll give myself the best opportunity to do my role.”

Source: www.news.com.au