BAZBALL? SUCCESS DEPENDS JUST AS MUCH ON BENBALL!

ASHES BUILD-UP | Morgan: Stokes' captaincy can decide outcome against the Aussies

- DEAN WILSON

THE captaincy of Ben Stokes is set to be the key to England's tilt at Ashes success this summer.

That is the verdict of the man who has had a huge impact on the current skipper's style of leadership and who learnt his own method by studying Brendan McCullum.

Eoin Morgan is uniquely placed having transformed England's whiteball cricket during his time as captain, but who has had a remarkable hand in the direction of the Test team too.

It was Morgan who recommended McCullum to director of cricket Rob Key for the Test coaching job, because he knew he could offer just what England were looking for.

And it was as Stokes' long-term skipper in ODI and T20 cricket, where Morgan's influence was most deeply felt and how we have arrived at 'Bazball' and a philosophy that has the players shooting for the stars and the draw almost an irrelevance.