Test Match Special - England make it 4 wins out of 4 in the T20 World Cup and we hear from England Men's Test captain Ben Stokes.

Episode Date: June 24, 2026

Henry Moeran is joined by World Cup winners Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Isa Guha as England beat West Indies by 38 runs at Lord's to confirm their place in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. We hear from player of the match Danni Wyatt-Hodge, both captains and reaction from Heather Knight. And the BBC cricket correspondent Stephen Shemilt speaks with the England Men's Test captain Ben Stokes ahead of the third test against New Zealand.

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qualifying from Group 2 with victory over West Indies here at the home of cricket. 38 runs the margin of victory with England having set a target of 187. A half century from Danny Wyatt Hodge, another one. 65 from 42 for her. Heather Knight made a quick fire 43 and there was 28 from Alice Capsie as well. Halfway stage. I think we thought that perhaps it wouldn't quite be the dominant display that then we saw in the second innings where West Indies ended up falling.

Shored on 148 for 5. Never really got going. I think it's fair to say. And England win by 38 runs to book their place in the semi-final. Alongside me is multi-time World Cup and Ashes winner, Katherin Sibber Brunt. And we've watched different but equally clinical performance from England. Yeah. It's been great from start to finish.

And we said it could go either way. That's what the wind is alike. I'm very, very happy. that England are on the winning side today because sometimes we can do that can't we can just give someone a little luck in or not have to you know put a spikes on and come out in a couple days time so I'm so glad that now there's a bit of relaxation and a bit of you know less stress time this week before the big stuff starts happening so it like you said it's been it's been very clinical today if we're going to if we're going to fault them it's going to be small stuff isn't it's going to be really nitpicking

and what would let's get into a little bit of what they did well England and what they did less well we will get reaction from out there on the on the outfield shortly but just sort of headline

what impressed you tonight so it was obviously nice to see Danny come out in her in her normal aggressive fashion there's there's no change there and I would love to think that she would stay true to herself and play like that throughout the tournament

because that's the best of Danny White Hodg. And she went to the very top of runs scored this tournament, I think, by a batter. I think she's gone to, even though she was run out and probably don't know what she would have scored, could it have been a second hundred, we don't know. So lovely to see her in the runs again and big, you know, converting that 50 into more. You know, the rest of the order didn't fire like we saw them fire last game. But we said that was such a spectacular performance at Headingly. You're not always going to get that.

That's like one of those superb scenarios. But I do think what I've been most impressed about over the last couple of weeks is the performances across the board. Here we go. Player of the match is Danny Wyatt Hodge. And she's judging down there on the boundary edge with Ian Bishop. Her medal for her excellent 65 from 42 today. Danny, congratulations.

100 in the first game at a half century here today. In your mind, in the heat, what were the keys to your success? I think just really watch the ball, have good energy. Yeah, just back myself, run really well. You know, it's T20. You've got to come out with Grave and show intent. And, yeah, it was my night tonight. A number of sweep shots and trying to manipulate the field.

How did you, what was your perspective on where you were trying to? to score and what pleased you? Yeah, I guess square leg was up for most of the inning. So I was trying to get that gap. And Fletcher was bowling quite wide at me. So, yeah, trying to access that area a lot. And yeah, just keep on trying to move quick and have energy. What about that heat?

What was it like batting out there in the heat? Yeah, that was the hottest I've ever played in here in England. Very close to back in Dubai a couple of years ago. actually it was just very dry heat but yeah I really enjoyed myself out there for the girls but it'd really well to get that total it's always a little bit tricky to bat here at lords but I thought we came out all guns blazing and everyone contributed eventually run out and some of the running was there like a little communication issues because there are a number of me and misses with the running today um yeah maybe a little bit something we'll

talk about for the next game. But yeah, I guess, you know, T20, it's always a bit tricky, isn't it? So, yeah, it's definitely something we need to improve on for the next games. Very well played to yourself or continually well played. Thank you very much for your time. Cheers, thank you. Thoughts there, the player of the match who was outstanding. Danny Wartthage, once again, dominating things at the top of the order, 65 from 42.

Isha Gura has joined us as well. Isha, what we're sort of getting into what an impressed, Catherine, about the England performance. For you, what really stood out? I just think England has shown so much adaptability throughout this tournament. I think we knew it was going to be difficult today in the heat. I thought West Indies handed them some early runs in that power play,

but it wasn't that easy to bat on in the day heat and also it was gripping in the surface. You know, it was a good toss to win for the West Indies and Haley Matthews because it did get a little bit easier when it got cooler and underlights. But I thought they showed a lot of composure, and that's what I've seen throughout this tournament, actually. You know, six months ago, a year ago, England in a sticky spot, you would have got a little bit nervous in the dressing room or watching on. But here I just feel that they're so in control because of all the wins that they put together.

Everyone knows their roles. There's so much role clarity. Because of that competition for places that has been developed throughout. the team. You know, it's not easy sometimes as a player to have that, you know, having to look behind you and wonder what's coming next and kind of worried about your spot. It can be quite stressful. But actually, what we have seen is that every single player in that squad has performed at some point in the last month. And so that then, when you're in a situation in a World Cup, we're under a bit of pressure, you have the confidence and the belief to be able

to get through those periods. And that's what we've seen from them, I think, in this game today. Yeah, that's so true And it's the contributions, as you say It's the contributions across the board And the more times that happens That gives everyone in that lineup The confidence in each other So it knows like if we get

Lose two wickets They don't go back to the dugout And sit there and go oh my God, we're done Like they go, we've got so much left We've back to nine We've got eight bowling changes There's no need to stress So they've built that confidence

and what I've think one of the key things to this team is because it is a new look team effectively what I've seen is some not growing up there's been an involvement right where we've seen two people in particular

Frey and Ken from Danny Gibson have just changed this gear not only in their cricket skill but their mentality they look like a hard unit to me they look scary now they're people that people would know how to bowl at, but now are fearing to bowl at.

And that is such a shift for me. That's been one of the standouts. They just back themselves. And there's a little bit of anger that comes through. You can sense it in the fact that actually, hang on a second. If they don't kind of feel like their place is secure, it's like, well, hang on a second, you should be backing me all the time. I want to see that loyalty, which, you know, Charlotte Edwards has been known to give people chances. and to keep backing them.

But I think because of that insecurity around places, that's made some players go, hang on a second, you're not dropping me. You're not dropping me ahead of this tour and ahead of this World Cup. And because of that tension and that stress that's been created,

actually in a World Cup situation, which is quite stressful anyway, they are stepping up. You think about Heather Knight today, for example. She walked out to step up. She walked out to bat. 43 off 26. Straight away, the conversations were around

should dance. Danny Gibson and Freya Kemp have been put up the order. I said no because she knows this pitch. She can play against spin and she's got the experience. She knows how to work the ball around the ground. And actually the run rate didn't drop when she was in. She was still making that run rate go at nine's, tens and over. She will look at that mishap with the runout with Danny Whitehodge.

And that was a shocker. Like she hit the ball to the fielder. Danny Whitehodge was in a good place. She was about to explode and she was run out. She could have wavered in that situation and got out, but she didn't. She kept going. On your point, I felt the other way. And I'm going to put my hand up.

I was one of those people that said put Freya in, put Danny in, because we're running out ofovers. And I felt that way because of the last, however, long period of time. But, and thank God, and brilliantly, she's had, she's forced me to think differently because she's come in and she's boundary hunted. and she's had to, she's taken risks, she's done this, done that, and she's gone and done exactly what they would have gone and done. But that's the only way to do it is because she knows, she's been moved down a spot, right?

She knows she will go down another spot or be a floater if she doesn't up her game. It reminds me of when Elise Perry fell out of the Australian T20 side, she took a look around and realized that I've got to be unshackled here in terms of how I perform and my attitude to it. And it's bringing out the best thing. Yeah. And that's a shocking run out.

You're absolutely right. But look how brilliantly they ran the last two, three games prior to that. Yeah. These things happened, don't they? And tough in the heat as well. The number of twos that were run today. Yeah. During that kind of the hottest part of the day, you know, that was, that's something to be said about that performance.

Well, we're going to hear from the two captains in just a moment. Five drop catches is a bit of a worry. We'll get on to that in a moment. Here's Ian Bishop. We're buying for the semis winning today by 38 runs. first loss of the AT20 World Cup for the West Indies and their captain, Haley Matthews, is with me here at the moment. Haley, commiserations, first of all. And if you go back to the toss, you chose to bowl in the heat. What was that like? Yeah, it certainly was hot out there. But at the same time, I don't feel like it was a bad decision for us to go and bowl.

The battery started off pretty well from the England side. We probably missed our lines at some intervals. and yeah, towards the end probably, but I still felt that we weren't too bad, we probably let ourselves down a bit within the field more so than anything. Just playing at Lords as a team sometimes can be intimidating for the first time, the sense of history here, that occasion had nothing to do with missing lengths and lines? Yeah, I don't think it has to do with the occasion necessarily. I think we're all pretty excited to get the opportunity to play at Lords. These are opportunities and chances that some people get once in a lifetime.

So I think it was the case for everyone to soak it in. I think everything's not always going to go your way when you have the big occasions. But yeah, we're going to have to come back to the next match, get a win against Ireland, and then hopefully we can be right back in a big spot to make up for that. Obviously there's some key players, including yourself in that lineup. There seem to be some consternation at your dismissal. Can you talk us through that? Yeah.

I certainly felt like when I caught the ball, I did hear a noise, but I felt like I definitely did not hit it. But yeah, at the end of the day, I feel like the umpires decision has got to be final. I think there was a clear gap between the bat and ball, but at the same time I got to respect the decision that was made and go ahead with that. So Chanel Henry batting well,

but we didn't see Stefani Taylor come out. What's the update there? Yeah, Steph was feeling a bit unwell today. She went off the field in the first settings with some chest tightness and having some difficulty with breathing so I think she's got a bit of a respiratory illness that hopefully we can get better for the next match

yeah and finally that next match is on Saturday and that is in Bristol at 2.30pm your destiny is still in your own hands yeah exactly I think that's a really crucial point for us it's all in our control and coming up against Ireland I think we just need to stay really positive and once we're playing our best band of cricket

it should come out on top of the game at the end of the day. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you. And Stephanie, just feeling a bit ill is what Haley said. And now we've got Charlie Dean here with us. Qualification sealed for the semis. How does that feel? Yeah, I mean, it's brilliant.

It's what we set out to do today and in the tournament. So to get over that line with the game to spare feels, feels great. To get above 180 in that heat, how satisfied were you at the halfway point? Yeah. for all our batters to chip in as well. You know, different people scoring runs, Heather and Danny, the standouts,

but yeah, everyone chipped in and to get up to that score at Lord to feel like we had a really good chance. You said it after the first match. I asked you about it. I had a tossed today compartmentalising. You said you wanted to bowl better as captain. Are you satisfied today?

You know, I'm never satisfied, I guess. I always want to keep getting better, and yeah, I still think I can put in better performances than I did today. But, yeah, I was really happy with the processes that I went with. I think I followed those a little better today. So, yeah, I'm happy, but always learning, always getting better.

From a team getting better would include some of the missed opportunities at the back end of the contest? Yeah. You know, obviously a few catchers went down. You know, they all looked like pretty hard opportunities, to be honest. So the fact that we got to those balls that maybe we previously wouldn't have. But, yeah, I don't think the fielding is a huge issue. The fact that we're creating those chances is really important. and hopefully we can cling on to a few more of those

when maybe it might mean a bit more if the game's a little closer. But yeah, always looking to get better, always looking to catch all our chances. But the girls put in a great shift today in a really hot weather conditions. Our cameraman don't miss much. They still not civil practicing,

doing a few drills there. Any updates on her fitness? Well, she's back in the net, but I don't know too much more than she does. So, yeah, really looking forward to her getting back out the pitch and hopefully sooner rather than later. All right. Thank you very much for your time. All the very best in the semi-finals.

Thank you very much. Cheers. Thoughts there are the two captains. After such a dominant attacking display from England, that was a marvellous block from Charlie Jean, wasn't it? That was, you know, get past that, Ian. Anyway, that sees England qualifying, top of the group, from four.

What about those drop catches? Interesting, Isha, what she said there, Charlie Dean, about. Well, maybe previously we wouldn't have even got there. So, yeah. I think that's, that's an interview answer to the world. I think in the dressing room, you know, I think if you're getting to them, you want to be taking them, especially if you're heading into a knockout situation.

You know, you do have to give them a bit of leeway because it was tough, hot, fatiguing conditions. But at the same time, you know, they would have been disappointed with those drops. Lindsay Smith, that one out at Deep Midwicket. She, she did get there. It was literally fingertips. Yeah. That was a difficult one.

The Amy Jones one should have been taken. I can't remember the other ones that might have gone down. I think four out of five are world class, right? Yeah. If you want to win a World Cup, you've got to be world class. So that includes the way you catch. So if you want to get that 5% ahead of Australia, then you've got to do exceptional things

because there's moments in T20s where it can be even Stephen, right, for a lot of the period of the game. but there's just exceptional moments. And they know they're like literally half an inch away from exceptional moments there. They were very tough catchers. Apart from one, I believe it will give them the sense of I could have made that. So it gives them the next time they're out there, it gives them 5% more in the effort,

which is all it takes to take those. At this stage of the tournament, you actually don't want to be having 100% game. you want to be still wanting more. It's nice to know there's more, isn't it? And going into that New Zealand game, they still want to be getting better. They still want to be, you know, improving as a team. You don't want to feel like you've played your final.

Yeah, and they believe there's more. That interview said, she said, they were always improving. I know you can't reveal too much, and I wouldn't ask you to, Catherine. But England have got a question about how, at what point to risk, you know, if indeed it is a risk and whatever else to, to alter things and get that Siverbrunt back into the side as and when she's available because they're playing well at the moment. Yeah, me and Eisha had a conversation earlier and it was,

will, they won't they win this game? And if they don't win this game, then there's a headache there for Natalie. Because the decision is, do I need a little bit of cricket before this enormous semi-final? Because the semi-and-the-final, for whoever's in them, are massive. They're the toughest games you'll ever play in. So there are no small feats that you can put your B-side in.

You've got to have your most elite. So that headache's sort of gone now. So that's a lovely non-headache to have for Charlotte and the medical staff and that. So I personally believe the next game is out of the question. For me, that's my wish. I don't get my wish. What will be will be, but that's my wish and probably the England fans wish. because she's had that taste of not having to play

but then knowing I didn't actually need to do that I was actually fine it was just that I had that mental blib I've gone through that now I've got that to fall back on in my mind and so actually I probably can just rock up to the semi-final and I think that's what everybody will want for her to we had the conversation that ahead of the tournament I spoke to Nat and she was saying that she wanted to build some confidence by being out in the middle which is why

she wanted to play that first game and probably the second as well, which I found surprising because she's a sort of player to me that she could naturally just go out and do a job. But the fact that she wanted to build some confidence and as captain, always a nerve-wracking game, that first game of a World Cup in a Home World Cup as well, all that pressure, especially as the team have been doing well without her, I think that probably is the mental blip that Catherine's talking about,

that she, that was a big tip. for her. She got out there. She captained well. She got runs on the board. And now she probably feels that actually I can come into a semi-final. I'll be okay. Especially if they finish top and they manage the

if there is such a thing as an easy as semi. Yeah. We'll work all that out in due course. The key for England tonight was get through it, get the win. Because West Indies they've got a brilliant record against England in tournament cricket where they've actually beaten England more times or they had beaten England more times than they'd lost.

And you sort of know that they'll beat you more times than not on a batting surface. Yeah, and they're a very dangerous side. And England lost the toss as well. So there's an awful lot to be very pleased with in that regard. Eisha, in terms of not wanting to play the perfect game at this stage of a tournament, have you seen enough evidence that England have got big game mentality in a way that perhaps they didn't have in previous tournaments? Massive. Right.

Massive difference. Huge difference. The belief, the belief is crazy, actually, that from what I see in this aura of this team, and you just have to look at the way New Zealand are playing and the lack of aura that they're playing with. I know they won their recent game, actually they were able to come through that. But dropping catches, it feels contagious. It just feels like a feel-good vibe within this side that even if a player gets after you with the bat, someone's going to come on and break that partnership.

and that can be thrown around it's not just one or two players anymore it's everyone in that team has a belief that they can do something in a critical match situation and that's what you want heading into a knockout game it's still going to be tricky whoever they play

knockout games are tough semifinals are probably the toughest you're going to play but I do see a definite difference within this side right oh so let's hear from one of those players that has been there seen and done it lifted the trophy here on this ground in 2017.

Now back amongst the ranks after nine years as captain. Heather Knight scored 43 of 26 in this evening's game and she's been speaking to Matt Henry. Heather, another win. You're in the semi-finals. That must be pretty pleasing. Yeah, really pleasing. I think it was a really good performance to get 1-8 on that wicket.

I think was well above par. I think it was a good wicket, but obviously a little bit of tennis ballie, a little bit of carry and then I thought the Westonies bowled a lot of slows and we're quite good there. thing to get to that score and yeah the main thing getting the two points at that nice relief um obviously we've got to have against the west indies last time and making the semis and knowing that we're going to be in london for at least another few days yeah was that on your mind that defeat last time in twenty twenty four and you did slip up you were captain then and you slipped up against west indies

now you had a calf injury that day and everything it was quite the day wasn't it much more straightforward today and you got through it yeah not in the mind at all no um yeah luckily the calf survived against in this time so that's all good. No, look, I think the pleasing thing in this tournament, which lots of different people have contributed, particularly in the batting lineup. I feel like as a unit we're working really nicely, like working out how to punch our scores,

how to set up games and how to play in different conditions. Obviously, Lord's is quite unique in terms of the conditions, the slope, the pace of the wicket and the angles that you hit are really important. So, yeah, being able to punch out that sort of score, yeah, I think we should be really pleased as a batting unit in particular tonight. You ran a lot of your runs as well.

You hit boundaries, but you ran a lot as well, which in that heat kind of being easy. Yeah, it was pretty hard. I'm not going to lie. Me and Danny probably turned the colour of these shirts a little bit when we were running those twos. But yeah, look, both of us, even though we're 35, we've got quite good engines.

So, yeah, it's just sort of what you kind of used to when you play abroad. You don't often get it when you're in the UK. And, yeah, it was certainly tough conditions. Danny did amazingly as well. The way she played, I thought in particular how she set the tone with the innings was brilliant. and then, yeah, obviously to sort of manage that middle. And yes, she's someone I really enjoy batting.

We played a lot of cricket with her. So nice to have a little partnership in the middle. And there's been talk about Freya and Danny really kicking on at the back end. That didn't happen today. And in the last over-year, Slad Charlie and you had Sophie coming in and hitting a couple of boundaries as well. Does that go back to and point to what you were saying about everyone seems to be contributing in that batting lineup? Yeah, 100%. Obviously, Charlie and Sophie haven't had a huge amount of time in the middle.

So that's kind of quite a nice thing sometimes to get that lower order a little bit of time. and I thought they were brilliantly. Great options on that wicket. I think our clarity going in, particularly on the wicket like this was really good. Obviously, Charlie using our reverses. And then, yeah, safe using the bounce to go over fine leg to score boundaries straight away.

So, yeah, it's really nice that we do have that depth. And I think just finding a way as a unit to really punch out scores, like we've obviously set a little bit more and we've set amazingly. Like, yeah, there must be some sort of stat around our last three set and obviously only chase once. But, yeah, we're trending really nicely in particular as a batting unit, which is really nice to see.

You had the game sort of sewn up by halfway, it fell to that chairs, but then there were a few drop catchers after that. Is that a concern? No, not at all. Like, a few really tricky ones. No, not worry at all. What happens now between you've got Saturday against New Zealand,

but how do you keep yourself ready for that semi-final? I think just to have a nice day off tomorrow. A lot of us have got family in town, which is really nice. And, yeah, just finding a way to switch off a little bit. I think that's the really nice thing about Home World Cup. you tend to have your loved ones closer and you know places and you can go and escape the pressure cooker of the tournament really and then yeah little training session down at the oval I imagine and we just want to keep that momentum going. I think we played some brilliant cricket and tournament cricket is all about trying to peek towards the back end and obviously we're in that semi-final now. So yeah we want to continue what we're doing really well going into that New Zealand game and yeah hopefully yeah we'll find out what semi-we're in and yeah build into that really nicely.

Does it feel like something's building now? Maybe, yeah. I think the support's been unreal. Like, that's the amazing thing about playing at home. I think the support for us and the momentum around the team is brilliant. And we've just got to keep doing what we're doing, keep delivering. I feel like we're in a pretty good place. We're tracking quite nicely. There's always things that we can do better, of course.

But, yeah, it's exciting, isn't it, to be involved in a huge day at some point next week at the Oval. And that's semi-final, yeah, it's going to be really special. It's a great place to pay cricket as well. so yeah, how can keep the momentum going and people continue to support us and get behind the team. Thoughts there of Heather Knight,

the former England skipper, chatting to Matt Henry on the boundary edge after she played it really nicely to hit 43 off 26 as part of England's total of 186 for 7. Catherine, final thought from you. England have a few days just to take stock and think

about the New Zealand game, yes, but also a head. head to a semi-final. You've been there, you've done it. What's your advice to those in the squad that maybe haven't and what to expect in terms of the build of anticipation from the public and one thing and another? Yeah, pretty much what Heather said,

time to sit back and just chill and relax, take things very slowly, especially in this weather. Even the way you relax needs to be quite relaxed. Some people's versions of that is to go for long runs and long walks. and yeah in this heat there's there's got to be a few smarts about so that i think the way they rest is crucial how they recover um will be crucial and being around family as she says you always want your loved ones close when there's you're in high stressful environments sometimes you don't

get the luxury of that but i do know there's a lot of family and friends around here at the minute and the fans have been really incredible and that always always gives you 5 10 20% of a lift So they've said that, she said that as well. We want them to get behind us. So we'd love to turn these numbers from 14.5,000 to 25 and a half thousand, please. Well, indeed. Well, credit to those that made it out today because it was incredibly hot. Catherine, thank you very much indeed.

Thanks to Isha Goua as well. On the open road, conditions change. Your composure doesn't have to. But technologies like terrain response to and clear sight ground view, Range Rover Sport brings confidence and control the challenging conditions. Explore more atrangerover.ca. He's widely recognized as one of the greatest footballers in history. He's won the prestigious Ballandor Award five times.

He's the all-time leading goal scorer in professional football. And according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, he's the first active footballer in history to achieve billionaire status. Guess who we're talking about yet? That's right. Good Bad Billionaire is exploring the life and fortune of football icon Christiano Ronaldo. That's a good bad billionaire

from the BBC World Service. Listen now, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Well, elsewhere today, away from Lords, the England men's test captain, Ben Stokes, has been speaking publicly

for the first time since an incident which saw him and fast bowler Gus Atkinson not selected for England's test defeat to New Zealand at the Oval last week. Our cricket correspondent,

Stefan Schemilt, has been at Trent Bridge for us ahead of the third test. Henry, I'm sure It's as hot there as it has been here at Trent Bridge. England have been building up to the series decider against New Zealand. Crucial game in the context of everything that happened over the Ashes winter in Australia. This was supposed to be the reset.

But England have won only two of their past nine test matches. They've not lost a home series of at least three tests since 2012. The build up to this game has been dominated by the fallout from that night. club incident, but Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been cleared to rejoin the England team, two of four changes to the 11 that lost the second test at the Oval. All of those things that we've spoken about in the past two weeks, the curfew, the investigation, whether or not Ben Stokes would continue as an England captain or a player, his relationship with Brendan McCullum and the support he has or has not had from the England and Wales

cricket board, he covered them all today. I spoke to him earlier and I started by simply asking what did he want to say about everything had gone on since he last played for England? Yeah, it's been pretty busy two weeks.

A lot of obviously off-field tension but it's I know everyone wants to ask questions and understandably I get that. I guess for me being back in this team now being back here as captain.

It's about this week. It's about the game. It's about the team and making sure that the team knows that I'm fully focused on what we need to do this week. And I hope it's not been lost that. It is a warm one. We're heading into the last game of a series against New Zealand.

And we know that what this week means, it would always be a big game for us going into the last game with it all to play for. But I feel like now, with everything that's gone on the last two weeks, there's a bit more riding on it. It is a big week and that's where me and Gus, I think first and foremost yesterday needed to let the team in the dressing room know that although we've been out and a lot's going on

the last two weeks, we know what the most important thing is here and I feel like we did a good job at doing that when I initially addressed the team and Gus spoke to the team so they know our heads firmly on the game. In the immediate aftermath of what happened you just said about coming back into the team and speaking to them. back to weeks, how did you feel and how did that responsibility of not being with the team weigh on your shoulders? Yeah, when you look at everything, when the game starts and you see everything going, you know, because obviously I was playing for Durham as well, but I was keeping

night on how the test match was going. And when you see things, you know, unfolding how you don't want them to unfold. That's where I guess everything starts to like, you know, hurt you a little bit more as an individual, you know, like there's repercussions of something like this extends beyond yourself as an individual. You know, it affected, you know, not only did affect me, but, you know, it has an effect on Baz, has an effect on everyone else, you know, Keezy, it has an effect on the senior players in the group. And we had lads making the debuts, has an effect on how that moment is for them. So, you know, you got to appreciate that and understand that and own that as well. So it's not a case of poor old me. It's like, well,

know there's a lot of other people have been affected by this as well so again when I came back into it you got to own that and take responsibility from that because yeah it's I think that's part of your job as a you know let alone as as as a captain but also as a leader you know it's class when everything's going well and everyone's you know giving you kudos for this that and the other but you know you've got to own things and look people in the eye who you know that it has had a certain effect on. So I had to do that and I felt like I did that pretty well. Is there ever a time when you thought you might not be England captain anymore? To be honest, when the process was playing out there was just that whole who no one

really knew what was going on. But the process is done. We've had the internal investigations done, the regulator investigations done, me and Gus are now back here. I'm back in my role as captain. Gus was back in his role as one of the senior players in the group. So We've done all that. That's been done, it's been put to bed, and me and him can both now focus on what we need to do this week. And you were always certain that you wanted to carry on being a player, never mind the captaincy? Yeah, again, it's a full thing where it's a long process to go through and it's got to go in stages. You don't know what's going on, you don't know what's happening. And then that's where it's very important to have a very, very good support network around you.

And I'm very lucky that I have to manage to build that over. over time. But look, I'm back here. I'm back as England captain and I can't change what happened over the last two weeks. Can't change what it's happened before that. What I can do is I can affect

what happens going forward. And what I can do is know that I've got a big role to play this week and making sure that this team can be the ones to say or retaining the trophy that we're playing for. You say you back? You see back as England captain? Do you want to be England captain

for as long as you are an England player? Yeah, England captaincy, it's one of those things where I'm 35 now and I've always thought, like, even before this stuff had all happened, is could I ever see myself playing for England and not being captain? And it's a question that I've never really been able to answer to myself because it's been such a big part of my part of this career, if that makes sense. You know, you look at some of the others who stepped away from captaincy and kept playing. but I'm like, oh, I don't really know.

I love playing for England. I love being captain of this team. And that's basically where I'm at with everything. So you never got to an answer to that question? No, this is one thing that I've always asked myself even before all this stuff, was like, could I see myself playing as just a player after doing it for so long? I don't know. I'm sure you've seen all the stuff that's been written and said about your relationship with Brendan,

and particularly when he spoke last week about his worry and his concern for you. Brendan spoke to us yesterday and said that you guys had had a good chat and that you still remain good friends, but that as part of that conversation you both sort of agreed, you're not 100% sure where the idea that you two aren't aligned has come from. So what's your take on that? Yeah, it's, me and Brendan, we've always been able to discuss things that I guess some people might try and avoid. and find a bit awkward and just not want to even get into that situation where they're having discussions and that's what I mean discussions.

Meant Baz don't agree on everything. We have discussions around things and he has his opinion and I have my opinion but we always end up getting to a place where I understand where Brendan's coming from. He understands who I'm coming from. And then from that we can then make a decision because without having those two opinions like we can't really get to a place where we think the decision we're making. as best for the team. Discussions should never be misconceived as a, you know, disalignment on things. You know, Baz is a coach and I'm the captain and we're ones who have to make decisions. So, you know, if I was a push over, if Baz was a push over, you know, there's no leadership there. And I've fully loved the relationship that me and Baz have been able to have professionally.

And then because of the respect we have for each other, we've also been able to then form a very, very good relationship away from our work environment. Me and Baz are mates. When you're worried about friends and you're not quite sure what's going on, you're going to want to look out for them, you're going to be worried about them, you're not. So I think last week, in terms of the words that Baz used in the press, conference don't look into them too much he cares about me I care about him and Baz cares deeply about everyone who walks into this team so he doesn't give that

away that often doesn't give that perception but buzz is a very care in person did you feel backed by everyone at the ECB during this process again it was a process that needed to be played out and process has been played out me and Gus are you frustrated by it how long it took to get to an answer yeah again I'm not gonna like see you're in life was was I bit frustrated by the whole process, yes. Has the process finished? Yes, I'm Ian Guss back, where we want to be, yes. We spoke to Brendan yesterday, he said after you'd got your runs at Durham last week, you text him to say, I'm back. What does that mean? Yeah, like, I'll shy away from,

it's been a little bit shorter runs out in the middle over the last few whiles, but the most pleasing thing for me from last week was just how I went out and felt about playing the game. batting especially. Again, I feel like sometimes time for me is the worst thing in terms of training, in terms of, I don't know, my other roles as captain, you know, like six months is a long time to think about things and maybe I was looking for something I didn't need to look for with my bat and I don't know. But what the last two weeks has done is potentially actually just freed me up a little bit

and gone like just get back to looking at the ball. trying to score off it and hopefully don't get out. I mean, cricket is a very complicated game, but sometimes it's made more complicated that it is, and maybe I was overcut complicating it a little bit when it came to the bat. But that doesn't mean I'm going to go out there this week and, you know, Blaze runs all over.

I hope so. It'd be great. But the positive thing for me last week playing for Durham was how I went out there and felt and I went about scoring my runs. It's 1-1 in the three-match series, big three-match series after everything that happened in the winter. Are you aware of the pressure to get a result this week? I mean, you always say to us, it's all about winning, obviously, and it's nice to win.

But are you aware that pressure might come again if you don't get that result? Absolutely. It's international sport. It's the highest level of which we can achieve playing for your country. And that comes with pressure regardless. And has the pressure on this team ramped up more than probably, well, this is definitely the highest amount of pressure that we've been. been under since me and Baz have been a coach and captain. Do you think that? I think so, yeah. And that's fine. It's how you deal with it is, I think, what proves if you're a good leader or not.

And you either can ignore it, but let it consume you, or you can accept it and deal with it. And I think what me and Baz have done is we've been able to accept that. This is pretty high pressure. We've accepted that, but we know that what we need to do is go out there and win games of cricket. you know it's a pretty simple thing to answer when yeah we're under pressure but we know what we need to do to get that pressure from being up here to slowly eke in further and further away which is to win you say now is the highest moment of pressure so even i know two nil down in a home ashes or everything that went on in the winter it's right now yeah that's what i mean we're in the hearing now and yeah we're under a bit of pressure but as i said you either got a look at it in the face and try and take it on or ignore it and it will still consume you just as i know a couple of final thoughts There seems to have been a lot of support from supporters and across the cricket and world for you over the past couple of weeks. Have you felt that? Yeah, honestly, like I said in the press here and to other people there that this is, I've played for England for a long time now and, you know, I've given a lot of myself to this team.

and I knew that I went out and played for a number of different things. I played for myself, play for my family, play for the love of the game, and always knew that a lot of it was for the fans. But honestly, over the last two weeks, it sort of made me understand yet again that how much support not only this team gets from the fans, but also I felt a lot of love and a lot of support. support and again it's just another another indication to me that right I go out there

and I play for this I play for that but there's also a lot of people who love this English cricket team and love me it sounds weird saying that but you know what I'm trying to say so yeah I'm incredibly grateful for the support that I was shown over the last two weeks and something that has not been missed in this whole two weeks of chaos So, yeah, it's been nice. I'm not saying that you would have ever needed a reminder of that support or ever need a reminder of what the shirt means to you. It's always nice to have it there, isn't it?

It definitely is. And again, like, you know, when chaos happens and something hits the fan, can't swear on BBC, I guess that's where you feel a lot of that support. So, yeah, it has been a tough two weeks, but there has been some positives that have come from it and feeling the support from the fans has been one of those. Last one. Tomorrow morning you're going to put your blazer on again

and come out and toss up. At some point this week you'll have your pads on and you'll walk down the stairs to bat. The atmosphere could be rocking. Are you ready for, I don't know, what everyone inside this ground will show towards you and do you think that might be quite emotional? I don't know. I hope so.

I genuinely feel that anyway. But how it plays out this week, I've got no idea. But, you know, that's... Yeah, they're not, we know that we've got some amazing fans. I'm pretty sure that we always get good crowds here because the atmosphere is always mint. And I don't think it's going to be any different this week, but, you know, through everything that's gone on the last two weeks, yes, like, I appreciate the support, but also the team appreciates it. So don't only feel like you've got to cheer bigger for me. Make sure you cheer as big as you can for the other 10 plays to go out there and play for the country as well, because we'll all be out there, bust and they've got to try and get the series win.

So that was Ben Stokes speaking to me at Trent Bridge. The third and deciding test starts on Wednesday morning, and you can hear every ball on Test Match Special. The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Step inside the Range Rover sport and experience refinement in every detail. With features like cabin air purification and active noise cancellation, every drive feels composed and considered. Explore more atrangerover.com.

How did a boycott Jimmy become a billionaire from posting videos? On Good Bad Billionaire, we're going to find out how the world's most popular YouTuber, Mr. Beast, made his fortune. He's buried himself in a coffin for days. Counted to 100,000 on camera. And even recreated Squid Games, all in an attempt to go viral on the internet. But it all started when he gave a homeless man $10,000. So is he a philanthropist reshaping capitalism? Or is he just the king of the attention economy?

Find out on Good Bad Billionaire. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.