KARACHI: England Test captain Ben Stokes claimed that England’s fresh approach to the fourth innings has triggered a sense of fear in the opposing teams, following England’s comprehensive victory over India after a historic run chase.
England, which levelled the five-match series against India 2-2 amid a remarkable start for the home side under the new leadership of captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, look to rewrite how test cricket is played.
“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,” said Stokes.
“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 claimed.
The home team, which has won four games in a row while successfully chasing totals of 250 or more, has set its sights on changing the way Test cricket is played.
“We are trying to rewrite how Test cricket is being played, in England especially,” Stokes said.
“All the different plans that we put together over the last four or five weeks, for every different situation is something we’ll look to carry forward,” he added.
“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,” he concluded.
It is pertinent to mention here that England have modified their approach under the new leadership, which has resulted in the side moving two places up in the World Test Championship standings after a slump post-West Indies tour.
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