England captain Ben Stokes has made a requirement for “flat, fast” wickets for this yr’s Ashes showdown with Australia to assist his workforce’s “Bazball” recreation plan which has turned Test cricket on its head.
Stokes has instructed groundsmen round England precisely what he needs to present his workforce the most effective likelihood of reclaiming the urn after drawing the final Ashes within the UK 2-2 then shedding in Australia.
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 charge of 4.76 runs per over, the very best of the 11 nations to have performed Test cricket.
Curators on the 5 venues internet hosting Tests have been instructed to supply pitches conducive to England‘s style of play, although it may also play into Australia’s arms 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 ultimate, 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 the easiest way for his workforce to win.
“We’ve been very clear, especially with the ground staff around England, about what type of wickets we want,” Stokes instructed 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 can 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 workforce had their method.
“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 together with his left knee however mentioned he was “pain-free” throughout his final Indian Premier League outing and could 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
