‘Crazy, amazing’ – Ben Stokes revels in Black Caps’ fantasy finish

“Crazy and amazing” – England captain Ben Stokes was in raptures about England’s place in one of cricket’s greatest tests, even if he was in charge of the losing side.

New Zealand performed a miracle comeback in Wellington on Tuesday to win an absorbing contest after being asked to follow on, and the victory secured a drawn series against the form team in the five-day format.

This was only England’s third defeat under Stokes and a second since taking on the job permanently from Joe Root. Stokes does boast 10 wins with his aggressive leadership under Brendon McCullum and is adamant that style won’t change as an Ashes series against Australia looms.

“What a game. It was crazy,” Stokes told media after the gripping match at the Basin Reserve.

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“You just don’t know what to do with yourself, but you can’t look back at that test match, even in our dressing room on the losing side, and not be quite thankful that you’ve been involved in a game like that. Test matches like that don’t come around that often.

“To be a part of that game was amazing. For it to end up in this position, after two and half days, was something we didn’t envisage happening. Being on the losing end is obviously disappointing but being a part of it takes any disappointment away. That is what you play test cricket for, to be in those moments.

“That doesn’t mean for a second we’re not fussed about winning or losing. We are disappointed when we lose. We also love winning – it’s something we will always give ourselves the best opportunity to do.

“If it doesn’t work out that way, we’ll hold our hands up and say the opposition were better than us, and New Zealand were better than us this week.”

Stokes defended his decision to enforce the follow-on, even when the depth of his bowling attack was under question through his own ongoing struggles with his left knee that saw him bowl just two overs in New Zealand’s second innings.

“I thought it was the right decision. The logic behind it was that our opening bowlers had ripped through their top order for three innings in a row. We knew that New Zealand would have to play the perfect game to put us in a position like this.

“We said before we took the field that day, if we had the opportunity to enforce the follow-on we would do it. Even having to chase 250, it was always our game to lose. We’ll always take the most positive option and not try to worry ‘what if the other team does this or that’.

“People might think that enforcing the follow-on was not the right call because of what New Zealand did, but you can’t live your life or captain an international cricket team living by hindsight.”

As for the Ashes during the looming English summer, Stokes is promising to continue the exciting approach that has marked his time in charge.

“This new ethos and the way in which we play isn’t going to change when the pressure really does ramp up with the Ashes,” Stokes said.

“That would be a waste of ten months. Even to go slightly back into our shells because we’re playing against Australia in the Ashes wouldn’t have done the last 10 months any justice whatsoever. I’m very excited.”

Of course, there’s a bit of time before that and Stokes is due to play for Stephen Fleming’s Chennai in the IPL on a $3.1m deal. He is adamant he will be involved, despite concerns about his long-term fitness. His problem knee even seemed to plague his batting as he tried to get his team across the line on the final day.

“I’m going to the IPL. I’ve had conversations with Flem [Stephen Fleming] and he’s fully aware of the situation with my body at the moment,” a defiant Stokes said.

“I’m not going to lie, it’s incredibly frustrating knowing something is holding me back being able to fulfil my role as a fourth seamer. I’ve been in different situations where I’ve been good, and where it’s not been good.

“I’ve been working hard with our physio and medics, and over the next four months I’m going to have a lot of time to give myself the best opportunity to get it right.”