NEWS
Follow UsWhen New Zealand were scheduled to tour India for a three-match Test series, no one really put the Kiwis as favourites, let alone expect them to whitewash India 3-0. Such was the result of the drubbing that it has turned world cricket upside down.
Ahead of England’s Test series against New Zealand, the Three Lions’ skipper Ben Stokes hailed the Black Caps, stating that their win in India is massive for world cricket.
"I think even though we're coming up against them in a series you've got to hold your hands up and give a huge amount of credit to New Zealand for going to India and winning all three games in the way they did," Stokes said ahead of the Test series against New Zealand.
"I think it's massive for world cricket. India have been such a force in their home conditions and New Zealand have gone over there and won 3-0, not only is it great for NZ cricket but it was a huge thing for cricket in general that a touring team has been able to go and get one over on India because I can't remember a time a team was able to do that."
In the most Bazball manner, England announced their playing XI a couple of days before the first Test, handing a shock debut to 21-year-old Jacob Bethell. While the debut in itself was a shock, the more astonishing fact is that the left-hander is slated to bat at No.3.
Across his 20 first-class games, Bethell has only scored 738 runs, with five fifties, and has remained without a century. But none of that really mattered for Stokes and co, who saw the ceiling of his potential.
"Bethell coming in gives him an opportunity up the order, as opposed to just sort of filtering down and not being able to impose himself on the game,” Stokes said.
"He's an incredibly talented kid. I think when you look at someone like Jacob, you can just see the ceiling that he has."
Bethell made his international debut against Australia earlier this year, where he showed his range with some stellar power-hitting. However, acing the red-ball format is a different ball game altogether.
"He's an incredibly talented kid. I think when you look at someone like Jacob, you can just see the ceiling that he has. I remember watching the one-day series. I think it was [Josh] Hazlewood; he bowled him a full ball and got smacked off the front foot, and then he got tested out, like right there, and then whacked it," Stokes said.
"Just those tiny little things where you see that there is something very special there. I'm looking forward to him getting going this week."
The first of the three-match Test series kicks off on November 28 (Thursday) at The Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
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