Leeds England skipper Ben Stokes has credited picking “the best players for every position” and new coach Brendon McCullum for the “unbelievable” 3-0 series win against reigning World Test champions New Zealand here. England crushed the visitors by seven wickets in the third and fi- nal Test at Headingley with former Test captain Joe Root (86 not out) and Jonny Bairstow (71 not out) fittingly at the crease to guide the home team to victory.
It’s been a massive turnaround for England since the time they lost the two-Test series to New Zealand at home in 2021, followed by the 0-4 Ashes debacle and the 0-1 Test series loss against the West Indies. Stokes said the clean sweep against the Black Caps was a dream come true. “It has gone really well. A 3-0 win against the best team in the world; it’s absolutely phenomenal. It’s about the change of the mindset of the lads towards Test cricket. To say that we have done it so quickly is unbelievable.
“Huge credit to Brendon (Mc- Cullum) and the backroom staff. Trent Bridge (2nd Test) was in- credible but being 55/6 and then doing what we did and the manner in which we did was the most pleasing thing. It has really set the level for people to want to come in and perform for the Test side. (Mat- thew) Potts has taken it like fish to water. (Stuart) Broad, even at 36, bowling these many overs, and fantastic to see (Jack) Leach (10-wicket haul in the third Test).
“When we got together, we picked the players who offer the best in every position. (Ollie) Pope’s been fantastic, carrying his form from Surrey and showing the world what Pope is about,” said Stokes. Stokes, however, believed that India will be much tougher than the New Zealand side when the two teams square off for the rescheduled fifth Test of last year’s series at Edgbaston from July 1.
