Ben Stokes: England Take a look at captain downplays Ashes discuss, eager to maintain staff targeted on third Take a look at in opposition to New Zealand | Cricket Information

England Take a look at captain Ben Stokes mentioned his facet wanted to focus “on the right here and now” and performed down discuss of the looming 2025/26 Ashes sequence in Australia.

Forward of their third Take a look at in opposition to New Zealand in Hamilton on Saturday – the sequence is already assured, with England 2-0 up – Stokes warned in opposition to seeing every thing as a stepping stone to the Ashes.

“Each Englishman and Australian is aware of the Ashes is an enormous sequence for each groups, however I believe I will likely be higher in preparation by decreasing expectations on this sequence,” Stokes mentioned.

“You at all times have an eye fixed on it, however we nonetheless have six exams earlier than that. [next year] so we have to give attention to these video games.

“I believe, by way of my very own fault, I could have talked a bit of an excessive amount of concerning the Ashes and put an excessive amount of emphasis on that sequence given the quantity of cricket we needed to play earlier than that.

“It is so removed from the aim of my management: to remain current, to remain the place we’re, after which fear about issues once we ought to be worrying about them. It was a mistake on my half.

“I don’t know the place it comes from actually… there are studying curves as a pacesetter, I assume.

“It is fairly tough when you will have an Ashes coming across the nook. I have been to fairly a number of of them now and also you type of take a look at the calendar and suppose: ‘oh, it is virtually there’.

“It is onerous to keep away from, however I believe I will simply be sure that I keep targeted on the current second and what’s forward. Then when The Ashes is our subsequent sequence, we’ll give attention to that.”

England actually discovered their goal in New Zealand, claiming back-to-back wins in Christchurch and Wellington to finish a 16-year look forward to a sequence victory within the nation.

It means Stokes’ facet are assured to complete 2024 with credit score – with 9 wins, seven defeats and one to play at Seddon Park. Extra importantly, the staff’s reboot was largely profitable.

At the beginning of the English summer time, a variety shake-up noticed document wicket-taker James Anderson retire, with the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Jack Leach and Ben Foakes additionally changed.

Of their place, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse have taken up the mantle of tempo bowling, Jamie Smith – away in New Zealand after the beginning of his first baby – appears the best inheritor to Bairstow as an attacking keeper-batsman and Shoaib. Bashir has 47 wickets in 14 matches.

“Seventeen Exams in a yr is quite a bit once you add within the different cricket; it has been an extended, onerous slog however an excellent yr,” added Stokes.

“We performed some good cricket and located some terribly gifted gamers who confirmed they had been able to placing in nice performances on the most important stage, enjoying to your nation.

“We have modified a number of personnel alongside the highway, however the best way we have stayed true to who we’re and gotten to know one another as gamers and as a staff…we have come a good distance .

“It undoubtedly wasn’t a aware resolution to begin recruiting guys actually younger. I believe it is simply that they are much more gifted than we had been once we had been 19, 20, 21 years outdated.

“In 4, 5, six years, the youthful guys on this staff would be the core, the skilled guys will push the staff ahead like I’ve tried to do. It is an thrilling prospect to consider.”

England take a look at tour of New Zealand