ENG vs IND: Ben Stokes' Leadership Has Been Phenomenal - Nasser Hussain
Published - 06 Jul 2022, 04:38 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:09 AM
Former England captain Nasser Hussain said the Ben Stokes-led England Test side will follow the footsteps of Eoin Morgan’s white-ball teams in their route to revive Test cricket in the country.
On Tuesday, England defeated India by seven wickets in what was a back-on-the-wall fightback in the final two days of the fifth Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
India were bowled out for 245 in the second innings with the fifties from Cheteshwar Pujara (66) and Rishabh Pant (57) setting England a humungous target of 378 on the fourth day.
England batters outsmarted Indian bowlers in the fourth innings
England openers Alex Lees (56) and Zak Crawley (46) laid the foundation for the potential record chase with their opening stand of 107. The duo had a clear intent of scoring runs at pace as England reached 100 in 20 overs.
Despite Jasprit Bumrah threatening an implosion with two wickets on either session (second and third) of Day 4, experienced campaigners Joe Root (142*) and Jonny Bairstow (114*) held their nerves and batted nonchalantly for two sessions (including the morning one on Day 5) to help England record their highest run-chase in Test cricket.
Root and Bairstow 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 unbeaten 269-run stand.
Ben Stokes doesn’t give a damn what anybody else says: 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 acclaimed Stokes, who took over the reins from Root at the beginning of the summer, for his phenomenal leadership role in the turnaround.
“It is in the field where Stokes’ leadership has been phenomenal. He has been so impressive in the way he has gone about his job and in the fields he has set,” Hussain wrote in his column for Daily Mail.
“Stokes doesn’t give a damn what anybody else says. He is doing it his way, to the extent of having Stuart Broad padded up as nightwatchman. When did you last see Broad play a defensive shot?”
“Just as Eoin Morgan’s white-ball side did, this Test team will cross the line occasionally. They will get it wrong but they will never doubt the road they are doing down and they will keep on doing it in their own way. Long may it continue,” he further wrote.
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: ENG vs IND: I Do Not Think Any Of Us Could Have Predicted How Good It Would Be- Nasser Hussain
