England’s aggressive and adventurous brand of Test cricket under the captain of Ben Stokes and coaching of Brendon McCullum has been lauded for its positivity as they managed to get a result on a flat Rawalpindi pitch in the first Test, defeating Pakistan by 74 runs.
England's batters might have made merry on the placid track but to bowl a talented Pakistan batting line-up out twice over on a dead pitch was surely an achievement.
Several former England captains and cricketers have hailed the team for their new brand of Test cricket and also called Stokes' captaincy one of the finest they have seen in the longest format for a while.
Now there is chatter about whether other teams will follow England’s suit in Test cricket or not.
Former England opener David Lloyd wrote in his column in the Daily Mail, that one team he feels has all the tools to do what England is doing right now is India. He pointed out the only problem with the Indian team is the "stats-driven” mindset of its batters.
"It is not totally new, of course. The Australian team of the 90s were very positive and the great West Indian sides were full of exhilarating stroke-makers. I reckon a team capable of this style now is India. They have all the tools. There has been a suspicion that Indian batters are stats-driven but Virat Kohli is one who could drive this," Lloyd wrote.
He hailed England's attitude for walking the talk in terms of making Test cricket more exciting.
"Test cricket has to keep moving in this positive direction to keep pace with the white-ball game. That's what England are doing in the most exciting way imaginable. What a statement Stokes has made in saying ‘I'm not interested in draws. And this win shows he means it. Even on a pitch like that! The fascinating thing now is how quickly other teams follow suit?," he added.
England and Pakistan will clash in the second Test at Multan from December 9 onwards, while India will play Tests against Bangladesh from December 14 onwards.
