
Tags: Cricket, Benjamin Stokes, England, Icc Test Championship, South Africa
England captain Ben Stokes was proud of his team's attitude after seeing them secure a series win against South Africa at The Oval on Monday.
Starting the day needing just 33 runs with all 10 wickets remaining in their second innings, England took just 5.3 overs to reach their target of 130, sealing a 2-1 win in the three-Test series.
Alex Lees (39) was the only batsman to fall, trapped lbw by Kagiso Rabada, but his fellow opener Zak Crawley (69 not out) and Ollie Pope (11no) saw the hosts home.
It was England's sixth win in their last seven Test matches, and Stokes – who was named player of the series – outlined how pleased he was with the way the team has embraced the attacking mindset promoted by him and head coach Brendon McCullum.
"It has been a great series for us as a team," he told Sky Sports.
"It has been a series where we haven't had any real individual standout performances, but different people throughout the series have put their hands up in crucial periods for us.
"For me, it is about the clarity of the decisions. Me and Brendon are the guys who are sending this message to this group of players, I said to the lads in the dressing room the other day that the person who is delivering the message can only do so much."
Ollie Robinson returned during the series for the first time since an underwhelming Ashes series in January, and was named player of the match after claiming 7-89 with the ball across both South Africa innings, including five-for in the first.
"It has been a really enjoyable comeback for myself and the team," the bowler said to Sky Sports.
"The experience over the last few weeks has been really enjoyable and it has just been great to be with the lads again.
"It is nice to get where I am at the moment but I don't think I am the finished article by any means."