Stokes expressed gratitude to players, fans for their support after winning SA series
Ben Stokes’ men have made it a habit of finishing Test matches in a hurry as they hammered South Africa by nine wickets in the third Test, which saw another early finish in the series. The English team’s resurgence in red-ball cricket continued with a 2-1 series victory, making it six wins in seven Tests this summer. Stokes applauded his teammates, especially former English skipper Joe Root for their efforts during the transition phase of English red ball cricket.
The flamboyant English all-rounder has taken to Brendon McCullum’s philosophy as a fish takes to water, with him leading from the front. The recently concluded South Africa series was supposed to be their biggest threat, and after receiving a battering at the hands of the Proteas in the first Test, it looked like a stern test indeed.
The red ball skipper showed his gratitude towards former skipper Joe Root, who groomed the players for six years during his captaincy stint. He also thanked his teammates, who bought into the philosophy that he and the recently appointed head coach Brendon McCullum are trying to implement.
“Joe has got to take a lot of credit for captaining the side for six years in the way he did. To then buy into something that was completely different to how Joe wanted to operate, everyone has really brought into it. I have been very thankful that I have had a group of lads who have brought into and understood the bigger picture of what I and Baz [McCullum] are trying to achieve,” Stokes said to the press after the third Test.
Our main aim was to make sure the Test ended in a result: Ben Stokes
The message is clear from the English camp: to play positive cricket, and they have done that throughout the summer with great success. The third Test was shortened, initially, after the first day was washed out by rain, and after day 2 was suspended due to the demise of the Queen. But Stokes wanted a result from the game with the series level at one win apiece, and his men took to the field with the very same intent, wrapping the game with almost a day still intact.
“There is a reason we have been able to go out and perform and have the confidence in each other to go and do that. That is very rare. With this game being shortened, our main aim was to make sure it ended in a result. We felt we owed it to ourselves, we owed it to the nation who have shown support throughout this whole summer. We will always continue to play in a way that is going to entertain people and always look at the positive side of cricket,” he added.
