Ashes 2023: 'First team in my lifetime to declare at 393/8', Gareth Southgate impressed by Ben Stokes' bold captaincy

Amidst their ongoing UEFA Euro Qualifiers 2024 campaign, England football team head coach Gareth Southgate is keeping a keen eye on the Ashes series that got underway at Edgbaston on Friday. On Friday, Joe Root scored a fine century and Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow scored fifties, but England’s declaration at 393/8 came as a shocking move to many. Southgate said that in his lifetime, England were the first team in his lifetime to declare at such a total. “I’m a big cricket fan and it’s something that is hugely exciting to watch at the moment. Their (England) mindset has been a big thing, but they’ve (Australia) also got a lot of world-class players. We’ve got quite a few players I think would get in a World XI. So, the standard is also very good, but there’s definitely been this shift in how they’re playing,” Southgate said in a press conference after England beat Malta 4-0. “I would imagine this is the first team in my lifetime to declare at 393/8 on Day 1. That will be an interesting decision because in the end people will judge on the outcome as they do, the decisions you make as a coach. But that’s a clue as to the mindset they’re going into the series with,” the manager added. At the time of writing, Australia were 188/4 at tea break, with Usman Khawaja (84*) and Cameron Green (21*) unbeaten. Stuart Broad has taken two wickets so far. Read all the  Latest News,  Trending News,  Cricket News,  Bollywood News, India News and  Entertainment News here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.