England skipper Ben Stokes dismissed the World Test Championship (WTC) concept, terming it "utterly confusing" and one he and his side don't focus on. England started their sixth and final series of the ongoing WTC cycle against New Zealand starting Thursday, November 28.
The WTC was brought in to add more context to every Test match and series in 2019. New Zealand won the inaugural cycle (2019-2021) by defeating India in the final at Southampton in June 2021. Australia followed their Trans-Tasmanian rival by winning the next WTC cycle with a 209-run win over India in the final at the Oval.
Meanwhile, England finished fourth in the first two WTC editions but have effectively been ruled out of final contention in the ongoing cycle.
At a press conference ahead of the first England-New Zealand Test, Stokes said of the WTC:
"In all honesty, the World Test Championship, it is a bit confusing, it’s one of those where, you know we don’t really look at it, I don’t look at it. It’s one of those where over a long period of time if you’re playing really good cricket, you’re getting results that you want, you’ll end up finding yourself there in the final and in the mix."
"I can’t remember if I’ve ever even given any real time to be specifically thinking about the World Test Championship to be honest because it’s utterly confusing, we play a lot more cricket than anyone else does, that’s just what we try and focus on, you know, if we play well, we’ll be there or thereabouts but if we don’t, then we won’t be," he added.
England's back-to-back away series defeats to India and Pakistan this year have relegated them to sixth on the WTC table.
India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka are still in contention to finish in the top two and qualify for the final at Lord's in June 2025.
"For me and this team, it’s about taking it game by game, series by series" - Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes said his side focuses on that particular Test match and series without considering its implications on the WTC table.
Since taking over as England's Test captain in mid-2022, Stokes has helped the side make massive strides in the red-ball format.
"For me and this team, it’s about taking it game by game, series by series and if you end up finding yourself in the position where you happen to be in that world test championship final, then it’s great but it’s a real weird one knowing that you’re playing for something over a long period of time," Stokes said in the press conference.
Despite several great results, the recent struggles in Asia and last year's drawn Ashes series at home have left many questioning England's slam-bang Bazball approach in Test cricket.
Coming to the first New Zealand Test in Christchurch, England have reduced the hosts to 319/8 at stumps on Day 1.
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