London, England's ultra-aggressive 'Bazball' approach to Test cricket failed to win the 2023 home Ashes against arch-rivals Australia, but captain Ben Stokes had urged his players to play for something bigger than the urn : to be the team that everyone will always remember. .
In a three-part documentary series 'Ashes 2023 | Our Take', produced by England and Wales Cricket Board and published this week, Stokes offered some revealing insights into his thinking during key moments of the closely contested and drawn 2023 Ashes.
After the fourth Test in Manchester last July, which ended in a rain-soaked draw, thus ensuring Australia retained the urn, Stokes gave a mobilization speech to his deflated players.
"Everything we have done so far is not going to stop because we have not managed to recover the urn. The reward for our work is not what we get but what we become," said Stokes who, led by coach Brendon McCullum, has pioneered the 'Bazball' philosophy.
"And what we have achieved is to become a sporting team that will live forever in the memories of the people who were lucky enough to witness us play cricket," Stokes said, according to cricket.com.au.
"I know it's going to be a bit flat, it's going to hurt that we go into the next game (at The Oval) without being able to get the urn back. But what we've done is something much bigger than any Ashes trophy could mean for this one. team: to be the team that everyone will always remember.
Since McCullum and Stokes forged the leadership partnership two years ago, England have won 14 Tests, lost eight and drawn one.
"Any decision I make will never be based on, 'Well, we're definitely not going to lose if we take this one, so I'll take it,'" Stokes said in the documentary.
"It's always going to be about what's going to give us the best chance to win a game."
Stokes' predecessor, Joe Root, had a more measured view of the England team.
"I don't think anyone thinks we're something we're not. We're not trying to say we're the best team in the world," Root said in the final episode of the documentary.
"One of the sayings that comes out of the locker room... is that teams can be better than us, but they won't be braver than us.
"And it's a great way to play," Root said.
In a three-part documentary series 'Ashes 2023 | Our Take', produced by England and Wales Cricket Board and published this week, Stokes offered some revealing insights into his thinking during key moments of the closely contested and drawn 2023 Ashes.
After the fourth Test in Manchester last July, which ended in a rain-soaked draw, thus ensuring Australia retained the urn, Stokes gave a mobilization speech to his deflated players.
"Everything we have done so far is not going to stop because we have not managed to recover the urn. The reward for our work is not what we get but what we become," said Stokes who, led by coach Brendon McCullum, has pioneered the 'Bazball' philosophy.
"And what we have achieved is to become a sporting team that will live forever in the memories of the people who were lucky enough to witness us play cricket," Stokes said, according to cricket.com.au.
"I know it's going to be a bit flat, it's going to hurt that we go into the next game (at The Oval) without being able to get the urn back. But what we've done is something much bigger than any Ashes trophy could mean for this one. team: to be the team that everyone will always remember.
Since McCullum and Stokes forged the leadership partnership two years ago, England have won 14 Tests, lost eight and drawn one.
"Any decision I make will never be based on, 'Well, we're definitely not going to lose if we take this one, so I'll take it,'" Stokes said in the documentary.
"It's always going to be about what's going to give us the best chance to win a game."
Stokes' predecessor, Joe Root, had a more measured view of the England team.
"I don't think anyone thinks we're something we're not. We're not trying to say we're the best team in the world," Root said in the final episode of the documentary.
"One of the sayings that comes out of the locker room... is that teams can be better than us, but they won't be braver than us.
"And it's a great way to play," Root said.
