Ben Stokes Looking To Positives Ahead Of Ashes

After it was confirmed England would be leaving Indian shores with a Test series defeat this year, captain Ben Stokes was eager to focus on the positives for his side as they build towards the next Ashes series.

Having won the opening Test against a strong India side, England will be disappointed to have lost the series before the final match. However, Stokes has highlighted some cause for optimism going forward.

Attacking Approach Pleases Stokes

Stokes’ England are known for their attacking style of Test cricket, and they certainly had a go at India in the first four matches of their series. England, who are +250 with online betting UK markets to win the 2025/26 Ashes series, tried as best they could to take the fight to India in their own backyard. According to sites like Paddy Power News for the latest insight, after the first Test there would have been plenty of optimism about England’s attacking approach. Winning that first encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium by 28 runs, batter Ollie Pope was the star of the show with an impressive second-innings score of 196.

India might well have been shellshocked by that opening defeat in Hyderabad, but they responded superbly to limit the English batting attack and won the second Test by 106 runs. A convincing 434-run victory followed in the third Test, before India wrapped up the series victory with a five-wicket win in the fourth. Speaking after the defeat in the fourth Test, Stokes said he was proud of how his relatively inexperienced side battled in the first four games of the series and that none took a backward step.

Fighting Spirit Essential Down Under

That ability to stay in the fight away from home will be vital for this England Test side as they continue to build towards the 2025/26 Ashes series in Australia. Head coach Brendon McCullum got his first taste of Ashes action in 2023, with England playing out a 2-2 draw against the Baggy Greens on English soil. There might well be a lingering feeling that series was there for the taking, but England could not make home advantage count in the end.

That series in 2023 saw a number of England players make their last Ashes appearance, with veteran bowler Stuart Broad calling time on his illustrious career afterwards. England will miss his combative bowling style and even his ability with bat in hand to take the fight to Australia. This new look England Test side have the ability to follow Broad’s example, and much will have been learnt from their experience in India. Players new to the Test stage will take much from the series and what levels need to be reached to beat a top side on their own patch.

England will be licking their wounds for a time after this series defeat in India, but their campaign in the subcontinent and the lessons learnt should stand them in good stead ahead of their trip to arch rivals Australia next year.