LONDON: Captain of England Ben Stokes said his side ‘can’t be great every day’ after a crushing loss to a ‘relentless’ South Africa in the first Test at of the Lord.
The Proteas needed less than three playing days to complete an innings and a 12-run win, with England eliminated for just 149 before tea on Friday after a meager 165 in their first innings.
It was England’s first defeat under a new leadership duo of Stokes and manager Brendon McCullum after a run of just one win in 17 Tests that marked the end of Joe Rootis captaincy.
England had won their previous four Tests since Stokes and former New Zealand captain McCullum took charge.
The wins were notable for their fourth-inning offensive hitter, including a stunning 378 chase to beat India at Edgbaston last month.
Stokes has insisted England have no intention of retreating into their shell in the second Test against South Africa at Old Trafford from Thursday, where they will look to level the three-legged matches.
“We have a certain way of playing,” he said. “We know we can be an incredibly tough team to play against if we execute this, tough to beat.
“We can’t be great every day. This week was just for us. But we’re not going to hang on to it for too long and carry luggage to Manchester,” added the all-rounder.
England’s approach has been dubbed ‘Bazball’ in honor of McCullum’s nickname, although the manager is not a fan of the term.
Stokes was adamant. England, repeatedly beaten by South African fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje at Lord’s, weren’t content to play ‘gung-ho’ cricket no matter what the match situation.
“Not only are we talking about wanting to put pressure on the opponent, but there will be times when we have to absorb that pressure,” said the skipper.
“I felt we were absorbing a lot of pressure this week because of the way South Africa played – especially those spells from Nortje and Rabada on the first day.
“When we have to absorb we try to do it in a positive way, but the way they played…they were just relentless.
“Sometimes you have to raise your hand. When you play international sport, some days they (the opposition) will be better than you, which is good.”
The Proteas needed less than three playing days to complete an innings and a 12-run win, with England eliminated for just 149 before tea on Friday after a meager 165 in their first innings.
It was England’s first defeat under a new leadership duo of Stokes and manager Brendon McCullum after a run of just one win in 17 Tests that marked the end of Joe Rootis captaincy.
England had won their previous four Tests since Stokes and former New Zealand captain McCullum took charge.
The wins were notable for their fourth-inning offensive hitter, including a stunning 378 chase to beat India at Edgbaston last month.
Stokes has insisted England have no intention of retreating into their shell in the second Test against South Africa at Old Trafford from Thursday, where they will look to level the three-legged matches.
“We have a certain way of playing,” he said. “We know we can be an incredibly tough team to play against if we execute this, tough to beat.
“We can’t be great every day. This week was just for us. But we’re not going to hang on to it for too long and carry luggage to Manchester,” added the all-rounder.
England’s approach has been dubbed ‘Bazball’ in honor of McCullum’s nickname, although the manager is not a fan of the term.
Stokes was adamant. England, repeatedly beaten by South African fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje at Lord’s, weren’t content to play ‘gung-ho’ cricket no matter what the match situation.
“Not only are we talking about wanting to put pressure on the opponent, but there will be times when we have to absorb that pressure,” said the skipper.
“I felt we were absorbing a lot of pressure this week because of the way South Africa played – especially those spells from Nortje and Rabada on the first day.
“When we have to absorb we try to do it in a positive way, but the way they played…they were just relentless.
“Sometimes you have to raise your hand. When you play international sport, some days they (the opposition) will be better than you, which is good.”
