By Nick Hoult
Ben Stokes faces a “selection nightmare” for this year’s Ashes after becoming the quickest England captain to 10 Test wins.
A 267-run victory over New Zealand in the first Test in Mount Maunganui over the weekend, England’s first in the country for 15 years, sets up the second Test in Wellington this week. In contrast, Australia fell to another lacklustre defeat in India to trail 2-0 in the series.
Ben Stokes celebrates the wicket of Devon Conway with Ollie Robinson during day two of the first Test at the Bay Oval.Credit:Getty Images
Stokes confirmed he would pick an unchanged team for the second Test if all the players are fit. Looking towards the Ashes, he will have trickier selection headaches if Jonny Bairstow, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are all available.
“It’s great to have so many world-class players to choose from,” he said. “It’s probably going to end up in a selection nightmare, but I’d rather have that for myself as captain and Baz [Brendon McCullum] as coach.
“I don’t like to look too far ahead but I think we’ll have a good crop of players to choose from in the Ashes.”
Pat Cummins’ men are struggling in India while England’s remarkable resurgence continues apace.Credit:Getty Images
Stokes said he felt “lucky” to captain this England team because of how the players have bought into his ideas.
“When you look at captaincy records, it’s only a small part of it. There are 10 other people who have to go out there and do a job, to allow you to win,” he said.
“I’m very lucky to be able to captain this team. It’s not only my captaincy and ideas that are allowing us to play this way, you also have to have the players fully behind you, to follow you out there.”
Under Stokes, veteran pace aces Stuart Broad and James Anderson have thrived. Broad has taken 34 wickets at an average of 26 and Anderson an astonishing 45 at 17.
“Seeing them running in with three lions on their chest is great and I don’t really want to think too far ahead to when they might call time on their careers,” Stokes said.
“You just want to keep thinking about them taking wickets and seeing Stuart bowl spells like he did last night.”
Telegraph, London
