Ben Stokes nonetheless appreciates being a part of an unforgettable close to miss in Wellington final yr however insists victory “in any approach, form or type” is the one precedence as England return to Basin Reserve.

New Zealand edged one of many tightest finishes ever witnessed when the edges performed right here in February 2023, turning into simply the second Check workforce in historical past to win by a single run and the fourth to triumph after following on.

Stokes lower a remarkably magnanimous determine on the time, declaring himself “blessed” to expertise an on the spot traditional within the moments after Neil Wagner dismissed final man James Anderson amid the nerve-shredding drama.

And regardless that he nonetheless seems again with fondness on that battle, his focus now’s on doing no matter it takes.

England haven’t gained an away collection in two years and have the possibility to take the newly minted Crowe-Thorpe Trophy by going 2-0 with one to play.

“It was an unbelievably memorable Check match final time. Regardless that we had been on the shedding finish it was one thing fairly particular to be a part of,” he recalled.

“To go down to 1 run separating two groups on the finish of a hard-fought match is one thing you may look again on and say it was fairly cool to be concerned with one thing like that. It was laborious to really feel too disenchanted due to the feelings we had been going via watching the sport unfold

“However this week I’ll take any win, in any approach, form or type.”

Final time round Stokes was unable to play his half with the ball, struggling visibly with the knee issues that may result in main surgical procedure final winter.

His return to full-blooded all-rounder duties has not been with out the occasional hiccup, lacking 4 of his aspect’s final seven video games with a torn hamstring and pulling up sore on the ultimate day of final week’s win in Christchurch.

He felt soreness in his again halfway via the fifth over of a spell and instantly withdrew himself from the assault. After a few mild coaching days to recuperate, he put himself via his paces throughout the workforce’s remaining follow session within the capital, bowling run-throughs within the center as assistant coaches Jeetan Patel and Paul Collingwood regarded on.

Stokes moved to ease any issues over his health, suggesting on the age of 33 he had merely shed his lifelong behavior of pushing himself to the restrict and past.

“I simply used my widespread sense for as soon as,” he stated.

“If you happen to look again to the place we had been within the sport we had been clearly nicely forward of that one. If the sport had been within the steadiness I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t have simply walked off midway via an over.

“It’s about understanding issues as you get extra skilled, as you become older. I perceive my physique a bit extra and I would hearken to it a bit greater than once I was in my twenties. I’m all good for this week.”

England head into their penultimate fixture of a busy yr boasting the highest two batters within the ICC’s world rankings, Harry Brook’s 171 in Christchurch leaving him simply behind main man Joe Root.

Simply 41 factors separate them, the type of margin that may rapidly be flipped, and Stokes is bound that reality is not going to have gone unnoticed by the Yorkshire duo.

“I believe these two can be combating it out up there for fairly some time now,” he stated.

“They don’t actually discuss it between themselves however it will likely be in the back of their heads and Rooty will wish to hold it that he’s primary and Brooky remains to be quantity two.

“They’re two unimaginable gamers. There’s Joe, who has performed a hell of quite a lot of cricket and is an extremely skilled man, and on the different finish you’ve acquired Harry Brook, who’s 20-odd matches into what’s going to be an unimaginable Check profession.”

New Zealand have matched England by naming an unchanged XI, resisting the urge to recall batter Will Younger or spinner Mitchell Santner.