After clean sweeping the New Zealand cricket team by 3-0 in the recently concluded Test series, England’s captain Ben Stokes has vowed to maintain the same mindset against the Indian cricket team when they face them in the much-awaited Birmingham Test match, starting July 1.
Ben Stokes Issued A Warning
Following the terrific win against the Kiwis, Stokes said that when he was appointed as the captain of the Test team, his main goal was to change the mindset of the team in the longest format of the game. His attacking approach helped his side in the series as they chased down totals in excess of 270 in the fourth innings of all three Test games and emerged victorious in all of them.
As England is gearing up to lock horns with India in the rescheduled fifth Test, Stokes has issued a warning to the touring side that they will bring the same brand of cricket to Birmingham. Speaking at the post-match presentation at Headingley, Ben Stokes said:
“Different opposition (India), we still have a series to draw. We’ll come out with exactly the same mindset.”
The dynamic all-rounder, who was on a mental health break from cricket at the time of the fourth Test match against India, said: “Obviously, it’s going to be a completely different… different opposition, with their attack and players as well.”
He added: “We’ll be concentrating on what we’ve done well over these last three games and look to continue that against India on Friday.”
England Is Trailing India 1-2 In The Series
Currently, England is trailing India 1-2 in the five-match Test series, which was halted last year due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Indian camp. The upcoming Test match will be the ‘fifth Test’ of the series which was earlier postponed indefinitely. On Monday, England also announced their 15-men squad for the upcoming Test match.
England squad:
Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Sam Billings, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Ollie Pope
