Stokes & England prepared for Windies challenge
Following
what seems like an age, international cricket will return to television screens
around the world this week when England host the West Indies in the first of
three test matches at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton starting tomorrow.
It’s
not only the first match since the coronavirus lockdown restrictions have eased,
but it’s also the first game that England star all-rounder Ben Stokes will
captain the side in. This is in the absence of regular captain Joe Root who is
with his wife for the birth of their second child.
Stokes had the summer of a lifetime in 2019 which included winning the World Cup as well as being a pivotal part in drawing a very competitive Ashes series. The 29 year-old and his team are eager to get underway given the recent circumstances.
“We’ve been in lockdown now for two weeks and I’ve been really impressed with the way in which the lads have cracked on with the amount of change we have had to deal with,” Stokes said. “I don’t think tomorrow could come at a better time and everyone is ready and rearing to go.
“There is only so much training you can do before you start to get frustrated and everyone is just really, really excited about what tomorrow is going to bring.”
The summer’s action in the UK will be behind closed doors so it’s something that they will have to get used to, however Stokes believes that there shouldn’t be more motivation needed than knowing you are playing for your country.
“When you have the three lions on your chest you cannot feel more proud than that.
“Although there won’t be anyone in the crowd to draw energy from, we know that there are hundreds of thousands of people watching us from around England that want to see us do well.
“It’s been fourteen, fifteen weeks since we last played so the fact that we are out here playing for our country should be motivation enough,” Stokes mentioned.
England will go into the series as favourites given the home ground advantage and their strong squad of players and Stokes is looking forward to the challenge.
“I love playing the West Indies because it is always a very competitive series,” Stokes added.
Stokes had the summer of a lifetime in 2019 which included winning the World Cup as well as being a pivotal part in drawing a very competitive Ashes series. The 29 year-old and his team are eager to get underway given the recent circumstances.
“We’ve been in lockdown now for two weeks and I’ve been really impressed with the way in which the lads have cracked on with the amount of change we have had to deal with,” Stokes said. “I don’t think tomorrow could come at a better time and everyone is ready and rearing to go.
“There is only so much training you can do before you start to get frustrated and everyone is just really, really excited about what tomorrow is going to bring.”
The summer’s action in the UK will be behind closed doors so it’s something that they will have to get used to, however Stokes believes that there shouldn’t be more motivation needed than knowing you are playing for your country.
“When you have the three lions on your chest you cannot feel more proud than that.
“Although there won’t be anyone in the crowd to draw energy from, we know that there are hundreds of thousands of people watching us from around England that want to see us do well.
“It’s been fourteen, fifteen weeks since we last played so the fact that we are out here playing for our country should be motivation enough,” Stokes mentioned.
England will go into the series as favourites given the home ground advantage and their strong squad of players and Stokes is looking forward to the challenge.
“I love playing the West Indies because it is always a very competitive series,” Stokes added.
