As a defining year of Test cricket for England begins in earnest, captain Ben Stokes is squarely concentrating on this week’s Trent Bridge Test that starts it all.
The starting gun on Brendon McCullum’s time as England coach was well and truly fired with an electrifying win over New Zealand at Trent Bridge in 2022.
That was a game which Stokes described as “[his] greatest win as an England player” - and almost three years on, the 35-year-old brings his Three Lions side back to Nottingham for the opening Test of a pivotal year.
“Zimbabwe is our sole focus at the moment,” said Stokes. “We know what we have coming up, but we’ll deal with the challenge of Zimbabwe that’s in front of us at the moment.”
Stokes’ focus on looking ahead is evident too when asked about his side’s recent rise to second in the ICC Test team rankings.
“When that came out, I sent [McCullum] and [Rob Key] a text saying ‘right, we’ve got one more place to go’,” he declared.
Facing Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge is the opening salvo of a ten-month period that will also take in a home series against India before an Ashes tour to Australia.
There is much hope that two men for whom Trent Bridge is a familiar surround will have an impact as they take their places in the England XI this week.
Alongside debutant and Trent Rockets regular Sam Cook, seamer Josh Tongue will return to play his first Test in over 22 months at his home ground.
Stokes was effusive in his praise for the Nottinghamshire man, who started his route back to the international side with back-to-back five-wicket hauls in this season’s County Championship.
“We knew he was good, but it took him to play Test cricket for us to understand actually how good he is,” said Stokes on Tongue.
“Obviously, [he’s] had a very tough year with injuries. It’s been really tough for him, but it was great to see him back on the field for Notts.
“[He was] not only getting through games, but also bowling well, and taking wickets, so for him it will be a big relief that he now sees himself walking back out on the field for England again.”
With Tongue and Cook on the field, Stokes’ England will be looking to lay down a marker at Trent Bridge ahead of facing India and Australia.
“Everyone knows when things are going well for us as a team, we are incredibly hard to stop,” said Stokes. “We know it doesn't always go that way.
“The word 'ruthless', I'm not a big fan of. The words I do love, and what I've tried to instil in this team, are 'dominance' and 'dominate'
“Whatever situation we find ourselves in the game, that's the word I want to be at the front of our heads.”
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