England's new era under Ben Stokes has been defined by aggressive decisions and fearless cricket: a hallmark of the so-called 'Bazball' revolution. On Day 1 of the third Test against India at Lord's, that philosophy was once again on show.
With the series levelled at 1-1 and conditions offering early movement - Stokes won the toss and chose to bat first. It's a call that aligns with the attacking mindset his team has adopted throughout his tenure as skipper.
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But how has that approach actually fared in results? Since being the captain, Stokes has opted to bat first after winning the toss in eight Test matches.
England's record batting first in Tests after winning toss under Stokes' captaincy
Here is a look at how England have performed when they have batted first under Ben Stokes after winning the toss:
| Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | Drawn | Runs | Average | RPO | Highest Score | Lowest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4135 | 30.62 | 4.36 | 657 | 112 |
Stats Credit: ESPNCricinfo
In these eight matches, England has scored runs at an impressive rate of 4.36 per over. But that aggression has not always translated into wins.
The results, with four losses and three wins, show a volatile mix. Despite the losses, England have shown no signs of retreating into conservatism.
Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum continue to back their players to take the game on. At Lord's, with the sun out and a pitch offering early assistance, England's decision to bat could go either way.
Their track record shows both promise and peril and the third Test may add another twist.