Ben Stokes vows to ‘keep coming at Australia’ after Edgbaston loss

Stokes and his England side tried everything in an attempt to force a victory in the opening match of the series.

But one of England’s self-proclaimed principles is that they’re willing to risk defeat in search of a win, and so it proved as Pat Cummins turned the tables on his opposite number to secure victory late on the fifth day.

Regardless of the outcome, Stokes says he will go again when the teams return to action at Lord’s next Wednesday.

“I am very proud. To take it to the end of day five like that… it was a rollercoaster, so up and down. It is another one of the games we will never forget being a part of over the last year.

“We just want to be a part of some great moments. Hopefully we have managed to attract the attention.

“A loss is a loss. We stuck to our guns in terms of how we were going to operate and we are going to keep coming at Australia in the way that we did.”

One of the more controversial elements of England’s attacking approach saw them declare on day one with eight wickets down, giving Australia’s openers a tricky mini-session on Friday evening which they survived.

The subsequent loss means this is the second time in the last three Tests that England have suffered defeat in a match in which they’ve declared.

“I saw (the declaration) as an opportunity to pounce on Australia. No one likes to go out for 20 minutes at the back end of a day.

“Who knows, it could have worked out.”

England will stick to their tactics and Australia will stand by theirs, according to Nathan Lyon.

The spinner took eight wickets in the match and was out in the middle with bat in hand when Cummins hit the winning runs. And Lyon says that the victory is particularly special given the clash of styles.

“Every Test win is special but to do it here with the atmosphere at Edgbaston and the brand of cricket the English are playing, right now it is right at the top. My hands are still shaking with adrenaline.

“To be out there in the middle and with everything that happened at Headingley a few years ago, it doesn't make up for it but it certainly helps.

“We have spoken in the past that we need to stick to our strengths and not get carried away with the brand of cricket England are playing. Our strength is the long game and I’m really proud of the boy's efforts.”

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