Under the leadership of captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, England played an adventurous style of Test cricket on Monday. The Three Lions defeated Pakistan by 74 runs on a lifeless pitch after an exciting declaration kept both teams in the game until the very end. While England’s batsmen may have enjoyed themselves on the tranquil track, it was certainly an accomplishment to bowl a talented Pakistani batting line-up out in two overs on a dead pitch.

Since that victory, a number of former England captains and cricketers have praised the team’s new style of Test play and said that Stokes’ captaincy is one of the best they’ve seen in a long time in the longest format.

At the moment, a lot of discussion centres on whether or not other teams will adopt England’s style of aggressive Test cricket.

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David Lloyd, a well-known cricket commentator and former England coach, said in a column for The Daily Mail that India have all the tools to follow suit, but Indian batters’ “stats driven” mindset could be a problem.

“It is not totally new, of course. The Australia team of the 90s were very positive and the great West Indian sides were full of exhilarating stroke-makers. I reckon a team capable of this style now is India. They have all the tools. There has been a suspicion that Indian batters are stats driven but Virat Kohli is one who could drive this,”

Lloyd wrote.

He hailed England’s attitude and for walking the talk in terms of making Test cricket more exciting.

“Test cricket has to keep moving in this positive direction to keep pace with the white-ball game. That’s what England are doing in the most exciting way imaginable. What a statement Stokes has made in saying ‘I’m not interested in draws.’ And this win shows he means it. Even on a pitch like that! The fascinating thing now is how quickly other teams follow suit?,”

he added.

“A Team Capable Of This Style”: Ex-England Coach’s Big Comment On India https://t.co/f6krNBuD3H

— timewsofindias (@timesofindias07) December 6, 2022