Under Ben Stokes, England have played a fearless brand of cricket in the longest format of the game. In his leadership, the Three Lions have defeated New Zealand and South Africa at home and also won the one-off Test against India at Edgbaston last year.
With the same approach, the Stokes-led side whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 in an away Test series and followed it with a 1-1 series draw on the tour of New Zealand.
England’s next biggest Test assignment is the Ashes series at home in June-July this year. With nearly two months to go for the iconic series, England skipper Stokes has warned Australia that he has asked for "fast, flat wickets" to take the attack to the Ashes holders.
The all-rounder wants groundsmen at Edgbaston, Lord's, Old Trafford, Headingley and The Oval to prepare the kind of tracks that will allow England to use the ultra-aggressive game plan.
"We've been very clear with the ground-staff around England about what type of wickets we want and they've been very responsive to us, which is good," Stokes said on Sky Sports on Tuesday (April 11).
"We want fast, flat wickets. We want to go out there and score quickly. I'm smiling because I'm looking forward to it.
"There's no point changing just because we're coming into an Ashes series. Every player knows the Ashes is where everything ramps up a bit - pressure, exposure, all kinds of stuff - but we'll just keep sticking to what we do."
After taking charge as England captain, Ben Stokes has time and again reiterated his willingness to lose in pursuit of victory.
Earlier this year, England could’ve won a two-match series in New Zealand but Stokes chose to enforce the follow-on in the second Test in Wellington and ended up losing the game by one run.
"Hold me to it. Every game I play this summer will be to produce a result," the England captain said.
"I'm not going to change anything just because it's the Ashes. I'm not going to change for anything or any situation, because then I'm not being true to myself and what I've done over the last year."
(With AFP Inputs)
