Sir Andrew Strauss lauds ‘extraordinary leaders’ Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes

Sir Andrew Strauss believes Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have helped “redefine what the sport of cricket is definitely about” with their method to Take a look at matches.

England head coach McCullum and captain Stokes have remodeled the lads’s nationwide workforce’s fortunes since being appointed in Might.

They’ve inspired an attacking fashion of play which has seen England win 9 of their final 10 Take a look at matches, having gained one in 17 earlier than the duo have been appointed.

Strauss, who has overseen a excessive efficiency overview for the England and Wales Cricket Board, believes their method has challenged the normal view of how the format must be performed.

“The approaching collectively of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes in Might final 12 months has shifted the sport of Take a look at cricket from its foundations and has requested some basic questions of the centuries outdated accepted truths of the Take a look at format,” Strauss stated within the Marylebone Cricket Membership’s Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s.

“What these two extraordinary leaders of males – aided in no small half by Rob Key as director of cricket – have achieved, is redefine as soon as once more what the sport of cricket is definitely about.”

Strauss believes the normal type of the worldwide sport will at all times have a future regardless of the rise of shorter codecs.

Worldwide Cricket Council chair Greg Barclay was criticised final summer season for suggesting there might be a discount of Take a look at matches within the close to future as a result of rise of home franchise leagues.

Strauss admits there could also be some adjustments to the schedules going ahead however insists main Take a look at collection “aren’t going wherever”.

“It’s inevitable that some outdated establishments would possibly creak on the seams, together with some debt-laden nationwide governing our bodies {and professional} golf equipment,” the previous England Take a look at captain stated.

“Their position and function within the sport could need to be redefined and clarified over time.

“Additionally, bilateral cricket in the way in which that we see it right now is prone to be squeezed in a method form or kind.

“Is that an issue? Provided that we maintain on too tightly to the way in which issues have at all times been.

“I firmly imagine that the Take a look at collection that seize our imaginations right now – those that we actually stay up for – aren’t going wherever.”

Strauss additionally believes competitions such because the ECB’s Hundred are rising cricket’s viewers and permitting folks from completely different backgrounds to get entangled within the sport.

He added: “When you permit your self to maintain certain up within the thesis that the aim of the sport is to carry various folks collectively, whether or not enjoying or watching, and to permit cricket to teach and join, then certainly the rise of franchise cricket is among the nice steps ahead.

“The reality is that the sport of cricket has by no means been extra fashionable or extra various.”