Anderson demolition job keeps Stokes' remarkable run going

Should Bazball be called Benball?

- Ali Martin

At the end of another post-match press conference in victory, his cap stained with sweat and a thirst developing, Ben Stokes grimaced, paused for a moment and then decided on the term he would prefer: "Test cricket," he replied. "English Test cricket."

This 007-like answer feels unlikely to stick like the one England claim to dislike. That one has even crept into the dressing room itself. Joe Root apparently popped a badge on Brendon McCullum's kit bag with "Bazball" written on it and the players were waiting to see what happened when their Kiwi head coach eventually discovered it.

Either way, we have the latest slab of evidence that something specialis occurring under Stokes and McCullum. In exactly 100 minutes on a scorching fourth day at Bay Oval, England wrapped up a comprehensive 267-run win over New Zealand, Jimmy Anderson's four-wicket spree sealing their first in the country since 2008 and a 10th in their past 11 Test matches.

A run of five successive defeats in pink-ball Tests was halted - this their first away from home, also - and Stokes claimed another record to go with the six-hitting crown he took from McCullum on the third day: no England captain has chalked up 10 Test wins so quickly, this his 12th match wearing the stripes when you include a one-off stand-in job in 2020.