In order for England to win its first series of tests for 18 months this week, they will have to stop a habit that lasted the years of Joe Root and eventually led him astray. In four of the five home summers under Root, England followed a good win with a deflationary defeat and Trent Bridge was most often the scene of one of those defeats. In 2017 and 2018, England arrived in Nottingham with a spring in their step and positivity in the air, having won the previous test at Lord’s only to be forged, first from South Africa and then 12 months later from India, losing these races with an impressive 203 and 340 runs. He was a feature of this team and hindered its progress, leading England to pieces and changes and that is why Root found it so difficult to put his mark on the side.
There is no doubt about the way Stokes wants his team to play. He urged them yesterday to go even harder this week in New Zealand, taking advantage of their five-wicket victory at Lord’s. Luck is definitely on Stokes’ side right now. Kane Williamson tested positive for the coronavirus late last night, forcing the captain to quit the test and leading to a late call for Hamis Rutherford, who was playing for Leicester. New Zealand’s top series failed to pass the 20th in the first test and now they lost their best player and suffered a major upset in the 1st hour. Everything gives Stokes a great opportunity to lead England to victory in his first series, which would be the first victory for his team since beating Sri Lanka at the beginning of last year. “The message from me to everyone is to look to be even more positive than we were last week,” he said. “If you look at the result, we ended up winning, but do not feel comfortable with where we are. It’s just a simple message and it’s something we try to filter out in everything we do. I do not know how you make the positives more positive, but I think you understand what I mean. “ With Jack Leach ready after a concussion injury, Stokes was able to name the same starting line-up, with substitute Matt Parkinson leaving. Stuart Broad and James Anderson play Tests in succession, something that would not have happened under the old regime, and the first three who stumble have been told to go out and play with the same freedom. He has not dealt at all with what would have happened if Colin de Grandhomme had not overcome when he bowled with Stokes in one. England, on the other hand, seemed a happy team with Stokes saying how much fun it was in the net during the two training days, the management making the mood with the penalty shootout on Wednesday and Tuesday the coaches wearing helmets and directing catches to the players before going down. in business. “The point I have made to everyone is, first and foremost, that we play for England, we do something you love, that you grew up playing as a child,” Stokes said. “It’s always going to be fun. The results and things will take care of themselves. Let’s try to enjoy it as much as we can, always make sure we have as much fun as we can. They will take it all from us one day, and if you can not enjoy doing this, I do not really know what we can enjoy. “ The one who enjoys his cricket again is Ruth, who unloaded after the good deeds of the Lord of a Hundred, finally admitting what we all knew in that captaincy that sucked his life. Root once finished a test on Trent Bridge wearing a mask of Bob Willis and making fun of his harsh comment and this side of his character is starting to come back. “I spent all this time with Joe, especially the two years. “Being captain of England is more than what you do on the pitch,” said Stokes. “You can end up taking it home and it can affect your personal situation, something Joe was very brave to say, which I think is wonderful. Joe, without that extra pressure of being a captain, was almost like he was 18 and I’m sure he will soon cut the world’s socks again. It’s great to see Joe as he is and one thing Joe always does is score runs. “It’s great that he does not have this mountain of extra pressure to be a leader on his shoulders, he can just go out there and score as he does.” The players definitely want to keep Brendon McCullum happy. Litch was one of the many players who watched the new coach’s footage on youtube and how he tore after the ball on the pitch. McCullum stood back in training, choosing instead to speak to the players on a one-on-one basis, but made his first throws on Wednesday. Stokes has led the group talks. In fact, it’s not much different from what happened under Chris Silverwood or Trevor Bayliss, it’s just the new regime that made it look and feel different. Henry Nicholls is back in the New Zealand midfield and Michael Bracewell is likely to come for Colin De Grandhomme. The final change could be Neil Wagner for spinner Ajaz Patel, sharpening the attack. And England needs to get better. Lord’s was a good win, but not a good one.