Ben Stokes Has Had A Quicker Impact On Test Team Than Any Other England Captain - Nasser Hussain

Former England captain Nasser Hussain lavished praise on England Test captain Ben Stokes after England defeated India by seven wickets in the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday.

On Day 4, India set England for an enormous target of 378 in the fourth innings on the back of brisk fifties from Cheteshwar Pujara (66) and Rishabh Pant (57).

England openers Alex Lees (56) and Zak Crawley (46) paved the way for the big chase through their 107-run opening alliance before Jasprit Bumrah threatened an implode with two wickets on either session of Day 4.

England’s experienced batters Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow put their side in a commanding position at the end of the penultimate day before they wrapped the game in the morning session of the final day in their unbeaten stand of 269 runs.

Root (142*) and Bairstow (114*) were disdainful against the Indian bowlers in terms of scoring runs at a rapid pace no matter who bowled against them, the ball was sent to the boundary ropes as the duo combined for 34 fours and two sixes in their colossal partnership.

Ben Stokes has had a quicker impact on our Test team than any other England captain: Nasser Hussain

England became the first Test side to chase a target of over 250 in four straight games following the heroics of 277 at Lord’s, 299 at Trent Bridge, and 296 at Headingley against New Zealand before scripting the historic result against India at Edgbaston.

Hussain explained how Ben Stokes is different from other England all-rounders who have led the Test side in the past. Hussain, who himself captained England in 45 Tests, said Stokes got a quick impact on the team since taking over the reins from Root ahead of the summer.

“His early success shows you not to judge a player by people that have gone before. All I heard was ‘it doesn’t work for all-rounders as England captain, Sir Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff etc’. He is not Botham or Flintoff, he is Ben Stokes,” Hussain wrote in his column for Sky Sports. 

“I don’t know of an England cricket captain that has had a quicker impact on our Test team than Stokes,” the former England skipper added.

I have been impressed by Ben Stokes’ tactics: Nasser Hussain

On the morning of Day 4, Stokes cleaned India’s tail-enders, who have troubled England the most in this series, to finish 4/33 as India could add just 120 runs from their overnight score of 125/3. Hussain was impressed with Stokes’ field placements for different bowlers and the all-rounder’s tactics in England’s emphatic win in the fifth Test.

“I have been impressed by some of the tactics and how he has handled spinner Jack Leach, some of the subtle tactics a viewer might not see on their TV screen,” Hussain mentioned.

“For example, for James Anderson and Stuart Broad he has mid-off and mid-on so straight and a cover but not a cover-point, saying to them ‘you are going to pitch the ball up as we are looking for wickets’,” he further added. 

England will face India in the six white-ball games next with the first T20 International scheduled on Thursday (July 7) at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. England’s white-ball regulars like Stokes and Bairstow have been rested for the T20I series but will return to the ODI fold along with Root.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: Nasser Hussain Lauds Joe Root And Jonny Bairstow -“You Cannot Bowl To Those Two At The Moment”