Ben Stokes ramps up Ashes mind games with bold promise to Australian rivals

11 April 2023 , 19:57

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England captain Ben Stokes (Image: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

England captain Ben Stokes has insisted he will stick to his bold way of captaining against Australia this summer, vowing not to "change anything just because we're in the Ashes".

Stokes has revolutionised England's Test team since taking charge last summer, with he and coach Brendon McCullum pioneering a new positive and aggressive approach that has seen them win ten out of 12 games so far.

A hallmark of England's success under Stokes has been his willingness to go all out in pursuit of victory, having repeatedly said he has no interest in draws and is prepared to lose in order to have a chance of victory.

That philosophy was fully on display in England's most recent Test match outing back in February, when they lost to New Zealand by just one run in a thrilling game after enforcing the follow on.

Despite some criticism of his decision, Stokes insisted after the match he had no regrets and he has now vowed to do the same thing if presented with a similar scenario in the Ashes. In an interview with former England captain Nasser Hussain for Sky Sports, Stokes was asked: "You're 2-1 up going into The Oval, would you declare on 480-8, first innings?"

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"Yes," he replied, before joking: "Especially if we've only got Jimmy [Anderson] left! Walking wicket, isn't he?"

Stokes and Brendon McCullum have led England to ten wins in 12 Tests (Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Hussain then presented a similar declaration scenario, but with one key difference. "And if on the last day you're 300 ahead, three wickets down, and you're 2-1 up in the Ashes," he began.

"You just need a draw, [Like] '05, just have a draw, bails off and you walk off Ashes winners. Are you declaring or are you batting on?" But Stokes stuck to his guns, insisting: "I'd declare.

"You can hold me to it. I'm not going to change anything just because we're in the Ashes. Every game that I play this summer in this Ashes will be to produce a result. I'm not going to change for anything or any situation, because then I'm not being true to myself or what I've done over the last year."

Matthew Cooper