New Zealand v England: Brendon McCullum said that England Test captain Ben Stokes writes his own scripts and achieves special things.
New Delhi ,UPDATED: Feb 9, 2023 17:46 IST
Ben Stokes writes his own scripts, says Brendon McCullum. (AP/PTI Photo)
By India Today Web Desk: England Test coach Brendon McCullum said that captain Ben Stokes’s plans for the team are “quite lofty” ahead of the first Test against New Zealand.
England will take on New Zealand in a two-test series, beginning February 16 in Mount Maunganui.
McCullum said that anything is possible for England with Stokes as the captain. Ahead of the Test series, McCullum said: “With the skipper in charge, I’m not sure what’s possible for this side because he’s a guy who writes his own scripts and achieves some pretty special things.”
McCullum added that Stokes will do anything to push his teammates, but pointed out that he wants the England team to play a style of cricket that gives them the greatest opportunity to showcase their talent.
“I know the plans he has for this team are quite lofty and he’ll try to do what he can to drag the boys along for the ride. It’s been a good start. Results have been great, but it’s not so much about results,” McCullum said.
“I know we get judged on them, but thatтАЩs not really my focus, and that goes for the skipper as well. We just want the guys to play a style of cricket that gives them the greatest opportunity to allow their talent to come out and have a good time doing it. This year has been quite amazing.”
England are coming on the back of a three-test series clean sweep over Pakistan. McCullum also said that playing the fearless brand of cricket is still new for his side, but wants to stay aggressive consistently.
“We know there are some big challenges in front of us as well but whatever happens we’ve achieved some pretty cool stuff over the last little while and if we can take forward the lessons we have learned from the past 10 or 11 months it will give us an opportunity to do something pretty special in the next little while,” he said.
“I don’t think we have reached the limit and I think it’s still pretty new for us how we’re playing. The majority of the time it’s authentic. I think sometimes we have to force it a little bit, so we just need to make sure that does become as consistently authentic as it possibly can.”
