Stokes hails new generation after thumping NZ

Captain Ben Stokes said Sunday that England’s dominant displays in New Zealand shows they have quality in abundance coming through ahead of next year’s Ashes.
The visitors clinched the three-Test series with a game to spare, crushing the Black Caps in Wellington by 323 runs to follow their emphatic eight-wicket win in Christchurch.
With bowling greats Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad retired, Stokes said he was excited about the strike weapons now at his disposal.
Pace bowlers Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson, along with spinner Shoaib Bashir, have all been introduced to Test cricket this year.
Along with veteran seamer Chris Woakes, they outplayed their counterparts in New Zealand conditions.
“When you have a bowling attack like we’ve been able to field in these first two games, with the point of difference when it’s required, is massive for us,” Stokes said.
The lively Carse impressed on debut in Pakistan in October and has taken 25 wickets in his first four Tests at an average below 17.
Atkinson, who bagged a hat-trick in Wellington, has been consistently impressive since taking 12 wickets on debut against the West Indies at Lord’s in July.
“It’s great to see the guys who we see having a very long future and being the main crop of bowlers for us going forward doing really well and being exposed to different conditions,” said Stokes.
“Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson have been so good for us in the time that they’ve been out there playing for England.
“And now they have some unbelievable experience under their belts.”
Meanwhile, Stokes said the decision to bat 21-year-old Jacob Bethell at number three in his maiden Test series had been justified by his performances.
Bethell answered critics of his rapid promotion — without a first-class century to his name — with a sparkling 96 in his second innings at the Basin Reserve.
“As a young lad with so much potential and so much talent, why not let him go out there and expose himself to Test cricket at its toughest?” Stokes said.
“He’s proved a lot to a lot of people and proved why we rate him so highly.”