After an astonishing 28-run victory against India in the first Test in Hyderabad, one sealed by the debutant Tom Hartley’s stellar seven‑wicket haul, Ben Stokes was in no doubt: this was England’s finest performance in his two years as captain.
It was impossible to quibble, given both India’s 11-year run of dominance at home and the attack that got them there. This was England’s 14th win from 19 under Stokes and his head coach, Brendon McCullum, set up by Ollie Pope’s 196 with the bat before Hartley rolled India for 202 all out, the home side having been set 231 in the fourth innings.
