“It’s really satisfying, the growth of the side in general,” Brendon McCullum said after the Ben Stokes-led England sealed the series against West Indies 3-nil. “Sometimes, when you lose, you get a period of reflection and what we’ve seen is a team which has bounced back with a bit more of a harder feel to it.”
McCullum reckoned that England weren’t yet a “finished product” but had made significant progress towards becoming the team that can win abroad and not just at home.
Stokes, who promoted himself to the top of the order as England needed just 82 runs to win at Edgbaston, struck the fastest fifty in Test cricket by an England player – the joint third quickest overall- as England raced to the target in 7.2 overs to pocket a 10-wicket triumph inside eight sessions. Stokes finished unbeaten on 57 off 28 as England whitewashed West Indies in a Test series for the fourth time, all at home.
Brief scores: West Indies 282 (Kraigg Brathwaite 61, Jason Holder 59; Gus Atkinson 4-67) & 175 (Mikyle Louis 57, Kavem Hodge 55; Mark Wood 5-40) lost to England 376 (Jamie Smith 95, Joe Root 87; Alzarri Joseph 4-122) & 87/0 (Ben Stokes 57*, Ben Duckett 25*) by 10 wickets.
"It's freakish what he can do!" 🤯
Brendon McCullum reflects on England's series against West Indies 💭 pic.twitter.com/5o6yhLmoKM
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 28, 2024
