Ben Stokes, assuming the role of England’s Test captain, alongside Brendon McCullum as head coach of the red-ball side, was the beginning of a bold new era for England Test cricket, built on fearless aggression, unwavering backing of players, and a complete reimagining of red-ball intent.
Taking over the reins of a team that had won just one of its previous 17 Test matches in 2022, Stokes, in partnership with McCullum, completely revitalised the side’s culture. The all-rounder adopted an aggressive, attacking approach, later dubbed ‘Bazball’ by the media, which captured the imagination of the cricketing world.
Under Stokes’ captaincy, England won 24 of their 44 Test matches, registering a win percentage of 54.54%, ushering in a thrilling period of resurgence and permanently altering the landscape of modern Test cricket.