Ben Stokes feels the relaxed environment cultivated by England has helped debutants to shine in recent summers, after Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith impressed in their first Test appearances at Lord’s.
As James Anderson signed off from Test cricket with 704 wickets to his name, Atkinson took 12 scalps in the match and Smith hit 70 with the bat to help the Three Lions to victory by an innings and 114 runs over West Indies.
With Nottinghamshire’s uncapped seamer Dillon Pennington also in the squad, and vying for selection in the second Test from Thursday 18 July, Stokes believes his side have reaped rewards from focusing on enjoyment.
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“When it comes to the players coming in, it’s about making sure they know that they can go out there and express themselves in the way they want to,” Stokes told Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton after the match.
“Taking all that pressure off lets them go out, be free, be themselves, and not worry.
“There’s always an added pressure when you make the step up into international cricket, but for me and Brendon [McCullum, Head Coach] it’s about not adding to that pressure and making them feel as comfortable as possible – as though they’re playing for their counties, or maybe like they felt when they were younger – so they can enjoy it as much as they can.”
England’s first home Test for almost 12 months saw them comprehensively outclass their opponents from the Caribbean to go 1-0 up in the three-match series – with the prospect of securing a series win at Trent Bridge on the horizon.
Stokes, therefore, was satisfied with his team’s work.
“It was a really good start,” he said.
“To come out here and put in a performance like that was very clinical. With our batting, bowling and in the field as well, I don’t think you could look to start a summer with a better performance as a team.
“It's always amazing to see two young lads with a boat-load of talent coming in and receiving their caps, but to go on and put in performances like Gus and Jamie did is very pleasing.
"They're two guys who have got a high ceiling, Gus with the ball and Jamie with the bat and behind the stumps, and I think the future for those two is looking very good."
Atkinson was named player of the match for his astonishing match figures – the first ten-wicket haul by an England debutant since 1976 – and Stokes felt the Surrey seamer had proved himself as an all-round threat with the ball.
“I think with Gus, you don’t want to earmark him as someone who’s just out-and-out pace,” he said.
“It is obviously a bonus for him to be able to bowl at that pace, but he’s incredibly skilful. He used the Lord’s slope to his advantage, he felt very comfortable from that end.
“Looking back to the 50-over World Cup, we saw a lot of potential in him, but to see him come out here and deliver the performance that he’s done is very exciting.
“Taking 12 wickets on debut at Lord’s… what an amazing start.”
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