England skipper Ben Stokes believes that they have inspired his new generation of cricketers to take up test cricket in the same way as the 2005 series. England team made a conscious effort to keep the longer format of the game alive since the appointment of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
England decided to undergo a huge overhaul in the Test team in the wake of the humiliating 4-0 loss in the Ashes in Australia. Under Stokes and McCullum, England have completely turned their fortunes around in Tests and have been the best-performing side in the last year.
Speaking to the broadcaster after levelling the high-octane series on home soil, Ben Stokes is elated about how the series has unfolded as two high-quality going up against each other at their best and believes that everyone has enjoyed this day of cricket and reckons that fans would have enjoyed watching one of the most competitive series of Test cricket.
“The series is generally what Test cricket needed: two high-quality teams going toe-to-toe for six or seven weeks.
“We’ve been in control, then Australia have been in control in different ways, and I think everyone who has turned up to the game has really enjoyed their day of cricket. I guess that’s all you can really ask for, as someone who pays money to come and watch international sport,” Ben Stokes said.
The England team has been redefining the brand of test cricket with their aggressive approach over the last two years or so. With Ben Stokes taking up the captaincy and Brendon McCullum being the head coach, the team played some dominating all around the world.
I Really Hope That We’ve Inspired A New Generation… – Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes hopes they have inspired youngsters to play the longer format of the game just like the 2005 Ashes series did it to him.
The 2005 Ashes series is considered to be one of the greatest in history, as it was a closely contested one. England turned the tables in the second Test at Edgbaston, winning the second match by two runs after losing the first test by 239 runs.
“I really hope that we’ve inspired a new generation, I look back to 2005 and what that series did for me as a young person. I really hope there’s someone who is my age in 2005 that’s looked at this series and just said, ‘That’s what I want to be doing when I’m 21 or 22,” Ben Stokes added.
Ben Stokes’s led side made a stunning comeback into the series after being 2-0, as they outplayed the Aussies team in the last three games of the series and the Pat Cummins-led side was fortunate to draw the game in Manchester after rain spoiled the fifth day’s play.