England’s Ben Stokes applauds throughout the presentation after his workforce received the third Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Headingley, Leeds, England on July 9, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
England will “play cricket that gets a result, our way”, mentioned their inspirational captain Ben Stokes, strengthening the workforce’s dedication to stay to the hotly-debated ‘Bazball’ strategy.
England beat Australia by three wickets to win the third Test at Headingley on Sunday and lower the deficit to 1-2 in the five-match Ashes sequence, having misplaced the first two video games.
“We’ve kept the series alive and we just have to park everything from this week, but continue the way we play,” Stokes mentioned.
“I said last week we find ourselves in the perfect position with the way we play cricket.
“It does not change. After the Lord’s recreation and earlier than this recreation, earlier than the recreation in Manchester, we simply need to do precisely the similar factor: play cricket that will get a outcome, our way.” Stokes was happy with England’s approach here, but insisted his teams needs to improve.
“I nonetheless suppose we could be higher. The factor about cricket is no-one has the excellent reply to all the pieces. Everything will be assessed on the final result. That will all the time be the case. No-one ever has the excellent reply for the way it needs to be performed.
“We can be better in certain areas, and that’s all we can do, keep trying to be better and better and as clear as we possibly can as a team. People always seem to have an answer after the fact. I don’t think anyone will ever crack it; that’s why it’s such a great game.” The well-known rivalry will resume with the fourth Test at Old Trafford on July 19.
After struggling heartbreaks at Edgbaston and Lord’s, Stokes mentioned his workforce was “over the moon” following the win in one other “down-to-the wire game”.
“If you look at the first two games in terms of how tight they were, getting over the line in another tight game can mentally help… knowing that it’s another close game but we’ve got over the line in this one.
“The first two did not go our way. If you flip it spherical and we did not win this one and it is tight once more, you’ll suppose it is simply not meant to be.
“We’re obviously over the moon that we won this one but it’s just the start of what we know we need to do.” The English captain additionally heaped reward on the fast-bowling duo of Chris Woakes and Mark Wood in addition to seasoned spinner Moeen Ali, who have been introduced into the aspect for the third Test.
“We brought Woody and Woakes back in and it’s great when decisions like that impact the game. That’s what we look at, what impact can players have and how can we use them. All three of those guys did that this week.” Woakes, who hadn’t performed a Test since March 2022, grabbed six wickets in the third Test earlier than making a contribution with the bat in a tense run-chase in the fourth innings, ending unbeaten on 32.
“I didn’t even look at the fact that it’s been so long since he (Chris Woakes) had played red-ball,” Stokes mentioned.
“He’s a quality performer. He’s Mr Consistent. Having someone who can bat like that at No. 8 is a massive help, and when the ball’s doing a bit in the air or off the pitch he’s massively in the game.” Wood impressed together with his tempo and returned a five-for, in addition to doing his bit with the bat decrease down the order.
“When you’ve got someone who can come in and bowl 95mph, it’s a massive help,” the English captain mentioned.
“It impacts the game, whether he’s taking wickets at one end or they come at the other. Great to see him smiling, running in and bowling rockets. And with the bat, he’s a free spirit, and very clear in his mind.
“He walked out figuring out how he needed to take the recreation on, does not all the time come off nevertheless it offers you a greater likelihood,” Stokes mentioned.
