BEN STOKES wants to make England’s Test team great again by giving his men licence to play with freedom.
Skipper Stokes leads England into a new era in the First Test against New Zealand at Lord’s today.
It is also a first match for head coach Brendon McCullum and team supremo Rob Key.
Stokes said: “I want guys to believe they’re not going to have black marks next to their name if something goes wrong.
“It’s about making guys believe we have their backs.
“It’s not going to happen overnight — it’s about making the English Test team great again, which I’m very passionate about.
“I want everyone to feel free under my captaincy. There has been talk about the word ‘reset’ — which is something I don’t particularly like.
“I just see this as a complete and utter blank canvas for this Test team.
“Everyone is starting fresh now — whether you are Matt Potts, Stuart Broad or Jimmy Anderson.”
Fast bowler Potts makes his debut alongside legends Anderson and Broad — who have 1,177 Test wickets between them.
