Marcus Trescothick says he wishes England "were going into the Ashes next week" after a run of impressive Test results.
England's thrilling 74-run victory in the first Test against Pakistan generated huge praise for captain Ben Stokes, after his bold declaration helped to force a result on what was a flat pitch.
England have now triumphed in seven of their past eight Test matches, a stark improvement after failing to win in their previous nine.
The upturn in form bodes well ahead of a home Ashes series against Australia in 2023, with head coach Brendon McCullum's appointment in May of this year breathing new life into English cricket with an exciting new style.
England batting coach Trescothick says he cannot wait for the Ashes next year, and spoke of his admiration for McCullum's tactics.
"It is the exciting part [the Ashes]," Trescothick told reporters. "I wish we were going into the Ashes next week. If it continues on in this form then it bodes for a great series.
"As we say we do not look too far ahead in what is going on. But it is exciting, no doubt about it, because India series and Ashes series are the pinnacle of what we do in Test cricket."
Trescothick played for England between 2000 and 2006, and explained he would have loved to play in this expansive style McCullum has brought in.
"Any batter would have loved this," Trescothick added. "We would have loved this environment because it is so free.
"It is enjoyable, the methods and way we are talking about it in the changing room is exciting.
"You want to come out here every day, walk out with them and have the opportunity to bat. It is still great watching from the balcony and seeing what they do."
James Vince becomes Blast’s leading run-scorer but Will Jacks spoils his night
James Vince became the Vitality Blast’s all-time leading run-scorer but Will Jacks spoiled his night with 83 not out off 57 deliveries as Surrey beat Hampshire by six wickets.
Vince overtook former Sussex star Luke Wright to reach 5,054 runs in 169 matches with a superlative 88 off 56 balls not out as Hampshire totted up 156 for four.
But Jacks smashed eight sixes in an incredible riposte as Surrey extended their unbeaten run, going back to 2015, over Hampshire to 11 matches.
For Surrey, it got them back to winning ways after defeat to Sussex Sharks, while defending champions Hampshire have lost two of their first three matches.
Chris Cooke’s maiden century in the competition led the onslaught as Glamorgan beat Middlesex by 29 runs at Merchant Taylors’ School.
Cooke smashed 113 not out in 41 balls with seven sixes, moving from 50 to 100 in just 12 balls, as the Welsh visitors piled up 238 for three, with Colin Ingram also unbeaten on 92 from 51 deliveries.
Stephen Eskinazi (59) and Joe Cracknell put on an opening stand of 146 in 12 overs for Middlesex but the chase petered out following their dismissals as they finished on 209 for five.
Rob Yates’ T20 best 71 off 53 balls, plus Sam Hain’s unbeaten 48 off 27 deliveries propelled Birmingham Bears to 202 for six in a 21-run win over Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road.
Craig Miles then took four for 29 as the Steelbacks were restricted to 181 for seven in their reply, with Ricardo Vasconcelos’ 65 off 39 balls the only score of consequence.
Ben Stokes does not fear for future of Test cricket amid Ashes excitement
England captain Ben Stokes can feel the excitement building ahead of the Ashes and is in no doubt over the long-term future of Test cricket.
Stokes’ side begin their summer of red-ball assignments on Thursday when they face Ireland in a four-day Test at Lord’s.
Eyebrows were raised ahead of the Ashes precursor when Ireland left out star bowler Josh Little, with the seamer ordered to rest after a successful Indian Premier League spell with runners-up Gujarat Titans ahead of next month’s 50-over World Cup qualification tournament.
Cricket Ireland’s high performance director Richard Holdsworth defended their decision by insisting the Lord’s Test was not a “pinnacle event” to draw further concerns over the future of international red-ball cricket with more and more franchise leagues filling the cricket calendar.
Stokes, who admitted he can understand Holdsworth’s comments, said: “I’ve always been a huge advocate of the Test format.
“The whole landscape and the whole game of cricket is literally just changing in front of everyone’s eyes so quickly.
“I see T20 and Test cricket being able to keep being successful and progress side by side.
“Look at what T20 has done for the game in general, the amount of attraction it’s brought – new fans, new players its brought into playing cricket regardless of the format and also what T20 has been able to bring in terms of Test cricket.
“The transition between the two games is so different but at certain periods in Test matches you do see that T20 side come out, which is only because the players have been playing it.
“So, I don’t see a world where T20 and Tests aren’t being played in the future.
“I don’t know what this build-up period before the Ashes is like compared to 2005, no idea, but it’s very hard to ignore and not be able to see the excitement.”
England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ style has helped them put Test cricket at the forefront of the conversation over the past 12 months.
After winning 10 of their 12 matches since Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum took over the red-ball team last May, all eyes are on what England can achieve when the stakes are at its highest this summer after they have hit conventional thinking for six during the past year.
England scored at 5.50 runs an over to post 506 for four on day one in Rawalpindi during the 3-0 series win in Pakistan.
Asked if a 500-run day in the Ashes is possible, Stokes replied: “Be alright, wouldn’t it? Anything is possible I think if you have the backing to go out and do it.
“The thing about letting guys go out and be free and stuff like that is that you just don’t know where their ability ends, if that makes sense.
“I think what we have seen over the last year is that the same players who have been playing for a while go to a lot higher in terms of their potential and them understanding they might be better than they thought they were. I think that is totally down to the mindset switch.”
Stokes’ own preparation for this enormous summer was spent in India at the IPL, but he only played twice and bowled one over.
However, the 31-year-old has viewed his “John Terry role” as a “blessing in disguise” with the spell with eventual-champions Chennai Super Kings time well spent after he worked on his batting and managed his workload.
He feels the latter will be key to ensuring he is able to play a full role with the ball when Australia rock up at Edgbaston for the Ashes opener.
“The knee is in a much better place than it was in Wellington,” Stokes reflected.
“I’ve been in India for the IPL over the last nine to 10 weeks but what I have done is get myself into a position where I am not able to look back and regret or say I have not given myself the best opportunity to play a full role with the ball this summer.”
James Anderson, who along with Ollie Robinson is being rested for this Test, was also referenced as a template for Stokes to follow throughout the Ashes with his energy set to be spent bowling on the field, rather than in training.
“Jimmy’s an unbelievable example of being able to manage his workload and everything he does away from it, then obviously he’s been delivering for years out on the field,” Stokes said.
England captain Ben Stokes unconcerned over ability to bowl in the Ashes
England captain Ben Stokes has no concerns over his ability to bowl in this summer’s Ashes.
Stokes’ long-standing left knee issue caused him problems during February’s tour of New Zealand and his recent time at the Indian Premier League proved fruitless.
All-rounder Stokes played only twice for Chennai Super Kings and sent down just one over for 18 runs during his IPL stint but ahead of this week’s one-off Test with Ireland at Lord’s, the 31-year-old is confident he can have an impact when the Ashes begins on June 16.
He said: “Yeah, look the knee is in much better place than it was in Wellington.
“I’ve been over in India for the IPL and these last eight or nine weeks I know I have got myself in a position where I can’t say I regret anything.
“I have got myself into a place where I feel like in a 2019, 2020 space in terms of my own body and fitness. I have definitely given myself the best opportunity (to bowl this summer).
“We know what it is (the problem) and now it is about managing it.”
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