‘Come on India’ – Nasser Hussain jokingly cheers India on as Ben Stokes nears England captaincy milestone

Ben Stokes and Brendon Mcculum (Photo Source: Twitter)

In a recent turn of events, Ben Stokes, England’s current Test captain, is rapidly climbing the ladder of success, leaving former skippers in his wake.

The charismatic all-rounder secured his 14th Test win against India in Hyderabad on January 28, surpassing the legendary Mike Atherton, who held the record with 13 victories. The news caught the attention of former England captain Nasser Hussain, who amusingly exclaimed, “Come on India!!!” in response to a social media post pointing out Stokes’ impending challenge to his record of 17 Test wins.

The ongoing five-match Test series against India has set the stage for Stokes to potentially surpass Hussain’s benchmark. The first Test in Hyderabad saw England emerge victorious by 28 runs, taking a 1-0 lead. As the second Test in Vizag looms on February 2, the prospect of Stokes eclipsing Hussain’s record hangs in the balance.

While Stokes may not be fixated on climbing the ranks of England’s most successful captains, he faces a pressing concern regarding the team’s position in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). Despite winning three out of six matches in the new WTC cycle, England find themselves in the eighth spot on the points table, just ahead of Sri Lanka.

The team incurred a 19-point penalty due to a slow over-rate in the Ashes series against Australia last year. To secure a spot in the WTC Final, Stokes and his team need to maximise points in the remaining matches and maintain a healthy over rate. Currently holding only 29.17% of possible points after six Tests, England’s journey to the WTC Final hangs in the balance.

As cricket enthusiasts keep a close eye on Stokes’ captaincy journey, the unfolding series against India is poised to shape England’s destiny in the ICC World Test Championship. They are set to face India in the second test at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, starting on February 2.