PAK vs ENG: We've no interest in drawing matches - Ben Stokes

England beat Pakistan by 74 runs on Monday

By Web Desk
December 05, 2022
Ben Stokes made a brave decision to declare in the second innings — PCB

England Test skipper Ben Stokes has said that the English have no interest in drawing matches after they beat Pakistan by 74 runs in the opening match of the series at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

The touring group defeated Pakistan by bowling them out for 268 runs in the second innings.

Pakistan began the fifth and final day on 80-2 after being set a 343-run winning target, but Ollie Robinson and James Anderson each claimed four wickets to put an end to the home team's hopes.

Meanwhile, Stokes lavished praise on his "special group" and claimed that the English side are only interested in winning.

"We've an exciting team and it was a great pitch to bat on, so a chance for us to go and express ourselves. For the lads to run in all day as they did today, it's great as a captain to see that enthusiasm. I don't think I've seen a group that want to put their bodies on the line so much. A really special group," the talismanic all-rounder said in a press conference after the win.

"We wanted to come here and carry on with our mantra of exciting cricket and giving ourselves an opportunity to win. We've no interest in drawing."

The series marked England's first foreign assignment since Stokes and McCullum were hired earlier this year.

The pair adopted a fresh, aggressive strategy in the summer, winning six of their seven Test matches against South Africa, New Zealand, and India.

However, they went above and beyond that by crushing Pakistan's bowling on a flat surface and outclassing them with their sensational bowling.

"We've played eight or nine Test matches with me and Brendon in charge and we try to focus on ourselves, take the positive option, and not second guess ourselves with what the opposition might do," he said.

The left-handed batter called the win one of England's "greatest" wins.

"I think it's maybe up there with one of England's greatest away wins. The toil everyone has put in is hitting everyone, Anderson is emotional up there. We've done something very special this week," he concluded.

The two sides will take on each other in the second Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium from 9-13 December.

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