England looks like a rejuvenated side under the new Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum era in Test cricket, having secured a series whitewash against New Zealand, before beating heavyweights India in the latest Edgbaston Test. The recently concluded Test saw England chase down a mighty target of 378 runs with seven wickets in hand. Following the win, Stokes mentioned that he wanted India to set a target of 450 to see what his side would have done.
"Don't know where it [the line] is. There was a bit of me that almost wanted them to get 450, to see what we'd do. I said yesterday after we finished the day's play, look at how teams will be viewing us at the moment, that third innings now has become a fourth innings - because they have to concentrate on how we're going to play, and they're worried about that," Stokes told Sky Sports, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
"So to be in that position as a team, being feared before they've even finished their innings is an unbelievable place to be in. Teams don't know how to play the third innings, especially when they've got a lead," he added.
Leading the line for England were Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow. The duo played knocks of 142 and 114 respectively as they built an unbeaten stand of 269 runs for the fourth wicket. Their newly found abilities were enough to halt a strong India bowling line-up, which had no answers on how to stop them.
"It's been the most fun five weeks I've had in my career so far. I don't think everyone can understand what's happened here. When you get given clarity in what you want to do and what you want to achieve and think about bigger than results, it makes everything a lot easier. It takes away the external pressure of what international sports can throw at you. When you know what you want to go out there and do, it makes everything a lot more simple," said Stokes.
"We are trying to rewrite how Test cricket is being played, in England especially. All the different plans that we put together over the last four or five weeks, for every different situation are something we'll look to carry forward. It's not always about bowling top of off or drying up, it's how are we going to take wickets? That's what you need to do as a bowling attack, take 10 wickets," he added.
The five-match series between India and England that kick off in 2021, has now finished as 2-2, but the Pataudi Trophy will still stay with India as they =won the series against England last time around in India.
"We know that we want to give new life to Test cricket, and the way that we go about it, and the support that we've received over the last five weeks has been incredible. It's amazing, in such a short space of time, we feel like we are bringing a new set of fans to the game.
"Inspiring the next generation is what we want to do, this game at the moment is bigger than results for us, it's about people who come in to represent England in the future, guys who come into the dressing room after. We want to leave a mark on Test cricket," said Stokes.
