‘It’s a fundamental shift’ – Former England captain Mike Atherton compares Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes’ captaincy approach

Ben Stokes and Pat Cummins. (Photo Source : Gettyimages)

Former England captain Michael Atherton spoke about the captaincy style of Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes in the ongoing Ashes Test at Edgbaston. England declared at 393/8 on Day 1 of the opening Test when centurion Joe Root (118* off 152) was at the crease. Australia opener Usman Khawaja (126*) scored a stunning hundred, his first in England, to revive his side’s Ashes fortune on the second day, guiding the visitors to 311 for five at stumps.

Atherton said that the Aussie skipper was defensive in his approach on the first day as he tried to stop the runs rather than taking wickets. Stokes, on the other hand, showed an attacking mindset in the first session of Day 2 to pick wickets. The captaincy of both England and Australia skippers was a fundamental shift, according to the 55-year-old.

“Every field change, every bowling change from Stokes, is about how to get a wicket. Every change from Cummins yesterday was about how to stop runs. It’s a fundamental shift,” Atherton was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

Veteran England pacer Stuart Broad got England off to a flying start on Day 2 by removing David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne off consecutive deliveries in the first session. Broad dismissed the opener for just nine runs while getting the number one batter in Test cricket for a golden duck. Stokes then trapped Steve Smith before he put on a 38-run partnership with Khawaja.

On Day 1, former English skippers Eoin Morgan and Kevin Pietersen talked about Cummins and the Australian team’s approach in the opening Test. Morgan commented on the Australian captain’s tactics during the first session of Day 1. He also stated that he was astounded by how defensive their fields have been, as they had never done so before.

Meanwhile, Pietersen stated that one will feel like Australia have fixed fields based on pre-series talk. He added that Australia’s approach was wrong, but from an English standpoint, it’s terrific to see them so defensive.