English red-ball skipper Ben Stokes expressed confidence in his team’s ability to chase in Test matches. England will face the Shubman Gill-led side in Edgbaston in the second Test of the five-match series on July 2, having established a 1-0 lead with a victory in Leeds.
Stokes commented that, while it was a fantastic effort to chase down 371 in the first Test, England will take things one at a time and rebuild if another large total is required.
“We are confident in our ability to go out and chase when we need to bat in the fourth innings. That obviously stems from a number of positive experiences over the last three or four years. So, heading into the fourth inning, you’re naturally confident. Still, 370 [371 in Headingley] is a lot of runs, and we knew we needed to play exceptionally well to come close. So there is even more confidence than last week, but this week is a new game. “We start from zero again,” Stokes told the media on the eve of the second Test of the present five-match series against India.
Ben Stokes was delighted with his ability to bowl long stints at constant speeds.
He bowled 35 overs and took five wickets in the opening game, with a reasonable economy rate.
“I did everything possible to avoid worrying about anything other than what we usually worry about. But after that game, I’m feeling comfortable about all of my spells, rhythm-wise, and being able to cast spells throughout the day. I was able to sustain my speed, which was one of the things I wanted to focus on,” Stokes continued.
India
