England's Test captain Ben Stokes has admitted his side's recent tour of India was a humbling experience but insists the lessons learned will be crucial ahead of this summer's Ashes series.
The all-rounder, who took over the captaincy from Joe Root in 2022, acknowledged England's 4-1 series defeat in India exposed weaknesses that need addressing before facing Australia.
Stokes Reflects on India Tour Challenges
'We knew India would be tough, but the conditions really tested us,' Stokes told reporters. 'Their spinners were exceptional, and we didn't adapt quickly enough. That's something we'll be working on.'
The 32-year-old highlighted Ollie Pope's brilliant 196 in Hyderabad as one of the tour's positives, calling it 'one of the great innings by an English batter in Asia'.
Ashes Preparation Begins
With the Ashes looming, Stokes emphasised the importance of learning from setbacks: 'The India tour showed us where we need to improve. We'll take those lessons into our Ashes preparation.'
The captain revealed plans to:
- Strengthen batting against high-quality spin
- Develop more variation in England's bowling attack
- Improve decision-making under pressure
England's next Test assignment comes against West Indies in July, which Stokes sees as vital preparation before the Ashes series begins in November.
Balancing Aggression with Discipline
Stokes defended England's much-discussed 'Bazball' approach but conceded: 'There's a difference between positive cricket and reckless cricket. We crossed that line at times in India.'
The Durham star vowed to find the right balance between aggression and discipline against Australia, saying: 'The Ashes demand smart cricket. We'll play our way, but we'll play smart.'
With Stokes at the helm and key players returning from injury, England will be hoping to avenge their 2023 Ashes disappointment and reclaim the famous urn on home soil.
