IND vs ENG: Ben Stokes Believes Workload Of Bowlers Could Be A Game-changer
Published - 01 Jul 2022, 01:15 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:09 AM
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With an average run rate of 4.54 during their 3-0 series victory over New Zealand, England’s brave new world under Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum has been most evident in their frenzied approach to batting.
Stokes, meanwhile, is ready to continue defying expectations, even when it comes to the workloads of his bowlers.
The skipper admitted he was ready to test the limits of his seamers after picking 36-year-old Stuart Broad and 23-year-old youngster Matthew Potts for the fourth Test in just over four weeks against India at Edgbaston.
Wanted To Push The Bowlers As Far As Possible: Ben Stokes
Last time out at Leeds, Ben Stokes took a back seat, bowling only four overs in the second innings and none at all in the first. Broad’s contribution of 47 was his highest in five years, leaving Potts to pick up 51 overs for the game.
“There was actually a method to why I didn’t bowl. I really wanted to push the bowlers as far as I possibly could, to make them realise what they can do,” he said.
“Broady, in particular, wasn’t very happy with me. It’s funny, as bowlers have your green zones, amber zones and red zones based on how much work you’ve done at the end of a Test. Broady said he’s created a new zone called the burgundy zone.
“But that Test match was bigger than the result, as I keep saying. What we did over the last three weeks is reshape how Test cricket is played.
“I honestly believe bowling out the best team in the world with three seamers and a spinner has done everybody the world of good. Doing what they did that whole week was really pushing them to their limits and making them understand what they are capable of doing.”
Sam Billings Replace Ben Foakes
The game this week is an exception in an already jam-packed calendar; it is the postponed conclusion to the Test series from last summer, which India now leads 2-1. Due to worries over Covid-19, the visitors backed out of taking the field at Old Trafford at the last minute. However, a new agreement was reached after lengthy talks.
Seven changes were made to England’s starting lineup from the fourth Test against India, but just two from the previous match against the Kiwis.
Ben Foakes, who tested positive for Covid in the middle of the Headingley game, is out after clearly having trouble during a fitness evaluation on Thursday. Sam Billings, who served as a stand-in, takes over.
Jamie Overton Gave The Best Account Possible Of Himself: Ben Stokes
Jamie Overton is pushed back into the reserves as James Anderson, a record-breaking wicket-taker at the age of 39, returns from a nagging ankle ailment. Despite making his debut with a vital 97 and two wickets, Overton was unable to alter the prevailing pecking order.
“Jamie got his opportunity to show what you can do in a cricket field and he gave the best account possible of himself,” admitted Ben Stokes.
“He’s obviously someone that we see has a bright and long future going forward. It obviously must be very disappointing for him, but he can walk away knowing he’s done everything he possibly could have done last week to really put his name forward to have a look at a good career for England. That’s how sport at the top level can work sometimes.”
Zack Crawley Backed By Ben Stokes And Brendon McCullum
Given that Zak Crawley has averaged just 26.68 in his 24 Test appearances to date, Ben Stokes and McCullum’s decision to keep him as the opener is a big act of trust. In six innings against New Zealand, he was removed four times for one-figure scores, yet he seems to have unflinching support.
“It almost sounds like a broken record when you keep saying it, but I’m going to say it again: he’s got the backing of myself, Brendon and everybody in the changing room,” said Stokes.
“I’m giving everyone in this team the time to go out and perform and show the world what they’re all about as players.
“When things aren’t going so well for someone you’ve obviously got to do the right thing, if that is pumping his tyres up or whatever it is.”
Also Read: ENG vs IND: Breaking News: BCCI Announces Squads For 3-match T20I Series Against England
Tagged:
Brendon McCullum IND vs ENG 2022 James Anderson Matthew Potts Sam Billings Stuart Broad Zack Crawley
