England's aggressive 'Bazball' approach to Test cricket didn't secure a win in the 2023 home Ashes against arch-rivals Australia. However, captain Ben Stokes had encouraged his players to aim for something beyond just winning the urn – he wanted them to be remembered as the team that played fearless and memorable cricket.
In the three-part documentary series "Ashes 2023 | Our Take", produced by the England and Wales Cricket Board and released this week, Stokes provides revealing insights into his mindset during pivotal moments of the closely contested and ultimately drawn 2023 Ashes series.
After the rain-soaked draw in the fourth Test at Manchester last July, which allowed Australia to retain the urn, Stokes delivered an inspiring speech to his disheartened teammates, urging them to continue playing with the same fearless spirit.
"Everything we've done up until now isn't going to stop because we haven't managed to win the urn back. The reward for our work isn't what we get but what we become," said Stokes who, with head coach Brendon McCullum, has pioneered the 'Bazball' philosophy.
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"And what we have managed to do is we've managed to become a sports team that will live forever in the memory of people who were lucky enough to witness us play cricket," said Stokes, according to cricket.com.au.
"I know it's going to be a bit flat, it's going to hurt that we go into the next game (at The Oval) not being able to get the urn back. But what we have done is something a lot bigger than any Ashes trophy could ever signify for this team – be the team that everybody will always remember."
Since McCullum and Stokes forged the leadership union two years ago, England have won 14 Tests, lost eight and drawn one.
"Any decision I make will never be based on 'well, we're definitely not going to lose if we make this one, so I'll go with it'," Stokes said in the documentary.
"It will always be about what's going to give us the best opportunity to win a game."
Stokes' predecessor Joe Root had a more measured view about the England team.
"I don't think anyone thinks we're something we're not. We're not trying to say that we're the best team in the world," Root said in the final episode of the documentary.
"One of the sayings that comes out of the dressing room ... is teams might be better than us, but they won't be braver than us.
"And it's a great way to play the game," said Root.