Stokes, together with coach Brendon McCullum, has emphasised an entertaining model of cricket since taking cost of the Test facet, leading to a formidable file of 12 victories in 16 matches. The group’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ model has earned them recognition on the worldwide stage.
As they gear up for the essential fourth Test towards their arch-rivals, Australia, at Old Trafford, England stay hopeful of reclaiming the Ashes. An exciting three-wicket win at Headingley has rekindled their aspirations, regardless of trailing 1-2 with two matches to go.
Stokes on Tuesday expressed his want that the keenness surrounding cricket wouldn’t diminish even when England fail to make a historic comeback and win the Ashes from a 2-0 deficit.
“I hope this craze around cricket doesn’t get lost if things don’t go our way in this Ashes,” Stokes said, underlining the importance of retaining the curiosity of recent cricket followers.
The fourth Test holds added significance as England has recalled James Anderson, their all-time main Test wicket-taker, at his residence floor of Lancashire. Remarkably, Anderson is but to realize the feat of taking 5 wickets in a Test innings at Old Trafford, regardless of one of many ends being named after him.
Upon listening to this truth whereas standing in entrance of the bottom’s honours board, Stokes remarked, “Is he not on there yet? I’ve got to say, I’m amazed at that. It would be good if he was able to do that, it would be nice to get his name up…He’s been an incredible gift to English cricket.”
However, the frustration of the second got here when it was revealed that Old Trafford and Headingley, the standard strongholds for Anglo-Australian matches, have been excluded from the listing of venues for the 2027 males’s Ashes.
Stokes expressed his dismay, saying, “You know the crowds we get in the north — and I say ‘the North’ quite bluntly there — are very good. We get a lot of support…So yeah, I’m a bit devastated that there won’t be any Ashes cricket here in 2027 in the north. It’s a shame.”
Despite his disappointment, Stokes acknowledged that he does not have the authority to make such choices, however he advocated for conserving at the very least one sport within the north, contemplating the passionate cricketing historical past and help from followers within the area.
(With inputs from AFP)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com