I've finally worked out what Stokes's captaincy and therefore the
team's playing style remind me of. Mike Brearley as captain of Middx
in the early 80s.

In those days, batsmen were nowhere near as capable of hitting sixes
as today's - partly because of boundary sizes, partly because they
lacked the technique - but Brearley himself set the tone as a very
busy and attacking opener and those who followed were either
nurdle-and-dash merchants like Radley who wouldn't stop scoring
singles or hitters like Butcher and Gatting, bowlers were always
seeking wickets and opposition batsmen were never allowed to settle.
(OK, "always" and "never" is exaggeration, but that was certainly the
intention.)

Foakes said last night that Stokes had been very clear about what he
wanted him to do when he arrived at the crease, and had explained it
in terms of how they were going to exert pressure on SA - and Foakes's
role was to be busy but not do anything stupid.

The essence of what McCullum and Stokes have said is that they should
*always* be looking for ways to exert pressure. Which will
occasionally mean weathering an assault for a few overs, alert to the
opportunity to change the momentum, but will more often mean attacking
with bat or ball, whichever you happen to be in possesion of at the
time.

Cheers,

Mike