09 February 2023 , 10:19
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Ben Stokes has had a remarkable impact on England's Test team since taking over the captaincy from close friend Joe Root last year and the all-rounder has "lofty plans" for his team heading into a massive 2023.
England were at rock bottom when Stokes took charge, having just been thrashed 4-0 by Australia in the Ashes and then lost 1-0 to the West Indies. However, alongside new coach Brendon McCullum, Stokes has got England playing a new positive and aggressive brand of cricket and guided them to nine wins in ten.
And ahead of England's first Test series of the year against New Zealand, McCullum says he and Stokes are hoping to "do something pretty special" with a home Ashes series right around the corner.
"With the skipper in charge, I'm not sure what's possible for this side because he's a guy who writes his own scripts and achieves some pretty special things," McCullum said ahead of the first Test in Mount Maunganui.
"I know the plans he has for this team are quite lofty and he'll try to do what he can to drag the boys along for the ride. It's been a good start. Results have been great, but it's not so much about results. I know we get judged on them, but that’s not really my focus, and that goes for the skipper as well.
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"We just want the guys to play a style of cricket that gives them the greatest opportunity to allow their talent to come out and have a good time doing it. This year has been quite amazing.
Stokes and Brendon McCullum have completely transformed England's Test team since taking charge (Philip Brown/Getty Images)"We know there are some big challenges in front of us as well but whatever happens we've achieved some pretty cool stuff over the last little while and if we can take forward the lessons we have learned from the past 10 or 11 months it will give us an opportunity to do something pretty special in the next little while.
"I don't think we have reached the limit and I think it's still pretty new for us how we're playing. The majority of the time it's authentic. I think sometimes we have to force it a little bit, so we just need to make sure that does become as consistently authentic as it possibly can.
"But I think the skill level of the guys is phenomenal. I'm not sure they've reached where they want to get to in their own careers yet, which is pretty exciting from our point of view. We've just got to keep them bound together and encouraged to try and be the best version of themselves."