England skipper Ben Stokes staunchly stood by his bold decision to call a premature end to his side’s first innings on the inaugural day of the Edgbaston Test, stating his refusal to amend his strategy despite a narrow two-wicket loss following five intensely riveting days of Test cricket.
Stokes chose to wrap up his team’s batting at 393/8, with approximately 20 minutes of play left in the opening day. Joe Root was at the crease on a powerful 118* and appeared primed to further bolster the side’s score with his assertive performance. However, the Australian opening duo of Usman Khawaja and David Warner managed to weather the four overs until close of play. Stokes’s choice was hotly contested and faced reproach from certain corners, including Ashes-victorious ex-captain Michael Vaughan who surmised that Stokes wouldn’t repeat such a move should England find themselves in a similar situation during the Lord’s Test.
“If we were in the same position? Absolutely. I’d love to be on 398 for 6 [sic] with 20 minutes left. That would be ideal,” retorted Stokes post the final day’s game.
“One could also argue, ‘had we not declared, would we have seen the thrill that the fifth day end brought?’ I can’t say for sure, but I won’t be reflecting on this game with ‘what if’ scenarios… the truth is, we simply didn’t manage to cross the finish line.”
While Australia’s captain Pat Cummins speculated he wouldn’t have declared under similar circumstances given the docile pitch that required teams to exploit their first-innings to the fullest, Stokes insisted he was seeking to ‘strike at Australia’.
“I felt it was a moment to strike,” said Stokes during the presentation. “I’m not going to deviate from my approach to the game simply because it’s the Ashes. Who can say? We could’ve added an extra 40 runs or lost two wickets in two deliveries. I’m not a captain who dwells on ‘what ifs’. We saw it as an opportunity to strike at Australia and truly dominate the start of day two.”
Stokes also commented that a week’s gap until the second Test at Lord’s was crucial for his bowling unit to rejuvenate and prepare for the subsequent challenge. England, having bowled a total of 208.4 overs across both innings in Birmingham, were somewhat hindered in their push for triumph on the final day due to Moeen Ali suffering a cut on his spinning index finger, limiting him to just seven overs.
“Seven days is actually quite a lengthy time to allow everyone a proper rest. We’ll regroup in three or four days’ time, assess everyone’s condition, and make a decision accordingly,” said Stokes.
“I asked Mo to inform me if his finger was causing discomfort, and I had an inkling that it was. For him to return to his first Test match and perform as he did, pushing through the pain barrier for the team [was commendable].
“The sheer joy on his face when representing England again was evident. I picked him for his ability to create match-winning moments. He achieved a few of those with the ball and nearly helped us clinch the win… [The break] offers Mo a good opportunity for his finger to recover.”
Despite ongoing knee issues, Stokes persevered to bowl seven overs in each innings, removing key players Steve Smith and Khawaja. He acknowledged that while his bowling contribution was small, it served as a major morale boost ahead of the remaining Ashes Tests. “I was absolutely buzzing,” he confessed.
“I’ve pushed my body harder than I have in the past year, which is definitely a positive sign for me and another shot in the arm,” said Stokes. “Getting through that, knowing we’ve still got four games on the horizon, has given me a huge lift.
“I can’t recall the last time I was able to bowl consistently. I was simply delighted to deliver a decent spell, especially when the stakes were high. I absolutely love being in such situations. I love bowling lengthy spells, especially when the game’s hanging in the balance.”
