The England skipper also threw his support behind the out-of-form Zak Crawley, believing the opener is "that close" to a big knock
Ben Stokes plans to keep pushing his bowlers "to the limit" to make them "understand what they’re capable of".
In the three-match series against New Zealand, Stokes’ first as full-time captain, Matthew Potts, Stuart Broad, and Jack Leach – who only played two full matches – all bowled in excess of 120 overs. The allrounder, by contrast, bowled just 53.4 overs compared to the 99 overs he bowled in the Caribbean.
"It’s funny, bowlers have green zones, amber zones and red zones based on how much work you’ve done at the end of a Test. Broady said he’s created a new zone called the burgundy zone," Stokes said. "But that Test match was bigger than the result, as I keep saying.
"I honestly believe bowling out the best team in the world with three seamers and a spinner has done everybody the world of good. You’ve got Broady completely at the other end to someone like Matt Potts’ career – he’s three games in but he’s started like a house on fire - but doing what they did that whole week was really pushing them to their limits and making them understand what they are capable of doing."
Stokes also confirmed his intention to continue with England’s positive and offensive approach to red-ball cricket, one which may not always deliver wins but will "send a clear message".
England's bowlers could be in for a busy few days at Edgbaston [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]
"It’s not always going to happen like this every week, but it’s how you respond to those days and we’re still yet to have one – well, we did have one at Headingley when we were 55 for 6. I think you know the responses you’re going to get if you have a bad day," he said.
"I’m not thinking about self-preservation or any personal gains. This is about Test cricket and sending a clear message; actions speak louder than words. The messaging and mindset we have at the moment was a huge contribution towards Jamie [Overton] playing the way he did last week – a guy going out on debut at 55 for 6 and playing the way he did was testament to the way we’re going about things.
"I think everyone is just really enjoying and loving playing at the moment. There’s no pressure; everybody’s having fun and putting everything on the line. It’s great that Jimmy and Broady who are at the latter stages of their careers have been rejuvenated by the way we’ve gone about the summer so far."
Indeed, Anderson, who has been recalled to the XI to face India at Edgbaston after missing the Headingley Test with an ankle niggle, confessed earlier this week he had "never been in a dressing room" like the one England have created over the past few weeks.
Sam Billings is the only other change to England’s XI, with the wicketkeeper – a Covid replacement in Leeds – continuing in place of Ben Foakes. The 31-year-old only has two Test caps to his name but Stokes is confident he will have a positive impact on England’s tail.
"He’s such a popular member of the group and he’s obviously a quality player," Stokes said. "To have someone like him down at No.7 is great. To have him here, enjoying it, loving every minute, he’s a great lad to have around.
Stokes has thrown his support behind out of form batter Zak Crawley [Alex Davidson/Getty Images]
"We know what he can do with the white ball, and he’s proved himself as a red-ball player as well. It’ll be interesting to see how he gets going if he spends some time in the middle."
That does, of course, mean that Zak Crawley has retained his place at the top of the order despite growing questions about his form. The Kent batter scored just 87 runs, with a high score of 43, in six innings against New Zealand and has been dismissed while still in single figures – often in frustratingly similar fashion – 19 times in 32 innings since scoring 267 against Pakistan in August 2020.
Stokes, however, believes Crawley is "that close" to getting a big score.
"He’s still Zak. When things aren’t going well for some, you’ve got to do the right thing, if it is pumping his tyres up or whatever it is," Stokes said. "He’s got the backing of myself, Brendon and everybody in the changing room. I’m giving everyone in this team the time to go out and perform and show the world what they’re about as players.
"You look back at the series against New Zealand and the times he spent out in the middle; he’s been very commanding and has such a huge presence at the crease. He hits the ball effortlessly.
"He’s that close to a huge score; he got off to a flyer at Headingley. 20 to 25 is nothing to write home about, he’ll openly say that, but it’s the manner of how he’s played which is a really exciting thing."
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