Ben Stokes Reveals His Ashes Pitch Plan: England Captain Ben Stokes reveals the pitch plan for the upcoming Ashes series scheduled to play later this year.
The Ashes 2023 will kick start on June 16 with a total of 5 matches scheduled to play till July 31 in 5 different venues in England. The five venues will be Edgbaston, Lord’s, Headingley, Old Trafford and The Oval. The series will form part of the 2023–2025 World Test Championship.
Ben Stokes Reveals His Ashes Pitch Plan
The all-rounder wants groundsmen at the five venues to produce the kind of quick pitches that will allow England to use the aggressive game plan he has deployed with great success since taking over as captain.
“We’ve been very clear with the ground staff around England about what type of wickets we want and they’ve been very responsive to us, which is good,” Stokes said on Sky Sports on Tuesday.
“We want fast, flat wickets. We want to go out there and score quickly. I’m smiling because I’m looking forward to it.
“There’s no point changing just because we’re coming into an Ashes series. Every player knows the Ashes is where everything ramps up a bit – pressure, exposure, all kinds of stuff – but we’ll just keep sticking to what we do.”
Stokes has spoken frequently of his willingness to lose in pursuit of victory.
He pushed that philosophy to the brink against New Zealand in February when England lost the series decider in Wellington by one run having declared their first innings and enforced the follow-on.
A draw would have settled the series in England’s favour but Stokes said he would not settle for stalemate, even with the Ashes on the line.
“Hold me to it. Every game I play this summer will be to produce a result,” he said.
“I’m not going to change anything just because it’s the Ashes. I’m not going to change for anything or any situation, because then I’m not being true to myself and what I’ve done over the last year.”
READ: The Ashes Winners List – Including Man of Series Winners Since 1882
The series was brought forward to June and July, so as not to clash with The Hundred tournament, due to start in August.
