England captain Ben Stokes says excitement around a thrilling Ashes series has underlined the success of the team's aggressive style of cricket since Brendon McCullum's arrival; watch the fourth Test at Old Trafford live on Sky Sports Cricket from Wednesday (10am)
Wednesday 19 July 2023 09:22, UK
Ben Stokes has teased the prospect of an even more aggressive England as they brace for a possible race against time, with rain forecast ahead of the fourth and defining Ashes Test in Manchester.
England arrive at Old Trafford knowing they must win to keep their hopes of a famous comeback intact after halving Australia's lead with a three-wicket victory in the third Test at Headingley.
The hosts' expansive play under Brendon McCullum, coupled with errors in the field, has reaped mixed results against the Pat Cummins-led tourists, but with heavy rain expected towards the backend of the week, there could be a greater onus on England to ramp up the tempo. If that is possible.
"It might bring more out of us again knowing we might have to push the game on more than we normally do," said Stokes.
"We'll have to wait and see. If the weather is what it is predicted to be, we might have to."
The skipper believes England's style of play will allow them to press the game on should inclement weather force them to have to adapt and points to last year's win against South Africa, which they managed in fewer than three days, as evidence that his team have the ability to pull out victories even when matches become condensed.
"I think we always try and look to be creative. I think the way in which we play will force the game anyway," said Stokes. "There might just have to be a few different tactical decisions to make maybe if there, say, potentially even 100 overs lost in the game, and we might have to look at pressing the game on quicker than we normally would.
"The game last year against South Africa was two-and-a-bit days to win that game, so we know we can do if we if we play a pretty much perfect game but we just have to cross that bridge when we come to it."
Does Stokes expect Australia to play for the draw, given the weather forecast for Old Trafford?
"I don't know if that's how they'll play this game," he admitted. "I'm not sure they will be thinking like that. To be honest, sometimes when you think like that you can actually come off worse. Yeah, we do know that they just need a draw to win the series and retain the Ashes but I'm not looking too much into that."
England welcome James Anderson back into the bowling attack after resting their all-time leading Test wicket-taker in Leeds.
The 40-year-old collected just three wickets at an average of 75.33 across the first two Tests, though Stokes insists he has no concerns over Anderson's production.
"He's excited, back here at Old Trafford, bowling at the end named after him," added Stokes.
"I think when you've been as quality a performer like Jimmy has for the last 10 years, he'll be disappointed he hasn't contributed to the team like he normally does.
"But what I did say to him was, even if you aren't taking wickets, think of the pressure you're putting on the opposition and the wickets we take from the partnerships you're bowling in.
"His economy rate and line and length is always immaculate, but he holds an end up without that being his main obligation with the ball.
"You don't get as many wickets as him without having the odd bad game here or there.
"No issues whatsoever with Jimmy."
As for his own role with the ball in hand, Stokes is hopeful his service will not be required.
"We'll wait and see. Hopefully not, we've got four seamers and a spinner," he laughed.
There had been a feeling momentum might begin to turn towards England in light of Australia losing spinner Nathan Lyon to injury, though Stokes pointed out that his side have had to hurdle some setbacks of their own during a thrilling back-and-forth Ashes series.
"We lost Leachy [Jack Leach] before the series started," said Stokes. "It's been one of those where both teams have had to re-jig a few things.
"All three games have been so tight, for us to get over the line at Headingley, it's been a great three games to be a part of.
"I don't think me and Pat want it to go too close again like that. It does get a bit stressful at times.
"We know what we need to do. They know they don't have to win this - a draw is good enough - but we know we have to go out there and win."
Regardless of the outcome against Australia, Stokes vowed to continue inciting the high-octane style of cricket that has spearheaded England since his appointment as captain and the introduction of McCullum.
"It's definitely been noticeable when we go out in groups, whether it be for coffees or on the golf course, we have people coming up to us and take a moment to say how much they've enjoyed this Ashes series in particular and making comments about friends or family who hadn't had an interest in cricket until now," he explained.
"Those things give you a bit of satisfaction and make you understand that the mindset we have had around Test cricket over the last 18 months has actually been successful.
"I've always said the result is not the most important thing. The way in which we play our cricket and take the game on to get the best out of us as a team and individuals is my main thing, because if we do play good cricket, the results will work out themselves.
"We're desperate to win the series and this game, but regardless of where we are at the end of the Oval Test match, this whole period of the way we've been playing isn't going to stop there."
Australia have dropped spinner Todd Murphy for the fourth Test, bringing all-rounder Cameron Green back into the side with Mitchell Marsh retained following his impressive display at Headingley.
Josh Hazlewood returns to replace Scott Boland in the only other change as David Warner keeps his place at the top of the order.
Warner amassed just five runs at Headingley before being snared twice by Broad, whose 17 dismissals of the left-hander is the joint-third highest by a bowler against an individual batter in the Test format. Broad could equal the record - held by Australia great Glenn McGrath, who claimed the wicket of former England captain Mike Atherton 19 times - if he does the double over Warner again in Manchester.
But Cummins argued Warner's three 50-plus stands in this series have been invaluable to their 2-1 lead and is backing the 36-year-old, who is averaging 23.5 after six innings, to come good this week.
"Davey didn't have his best game last week at Headingley but prior to that, I think he's looked really good - he's had three fifty-run partnerships which can be rare over here in England," Cummins said.
"Steve Smith got a great hundred at Lord's, a lot of that was off the back of a really important first session from the openers.
"We back Davey, absolutely. We know how tough it can be to open over here. He's doing all the right things, he's shown some great signs and I'm sure a big score is just around the corner."
Cummins revealed Hazlewood would replace fellow seamer Boland, who has taken just two wickets in two matches at an eye-watering 115.5 average, while fit-again all-rounder Green replaces Murphy after the rookie spinner bowled just 9.3 overs in Leeds having come in for Nathan Lyon, one of Australia's greatest spinners who played 100 Tests in a row before injuring his calf in the second Test at Lord's.
Australia's last Test without a recognised spinner was in January 2012 against India at Perth - a match they won by an innings - although Old Trafford has a reputation for offering help to slow bowlers.
"Nathan Lyon is the greatest off-spinner we've ever had so it's not quite apples for apples (in comparing him to Murphy)," Cummins said.
"We are really excited by Todd, we think he's fantastic. He's got a big future. It was more conditions or the way I used him, as opposed to how he bowled."
Watch day one of the fourth Ashes Test live on Sky Sports Cricket on Wednesday July 19. Build-up from 10am, first ball at 11am. You can stream the men's and women's Ashes series on NOW.
