'If you want to play for us, you'll have to bat like us' - Ben Stokes on England hopefuls

The newly-appointed Ben Stokes has sent a stern message to the players aspiring to play for the country in the red-ball format after England completed a series whitewash over New Zealand. 

England chased down the total of 296 in 54.2 overs at a run rate of 5.42, making it one of the quickest chases in the history of the longest format. Bairstow plundered an unbeaten 71 off 44 balls, comprising nine fours and three sixes. Overall, they scored at a rate of 4.54, which was the fastest in the three-match Test series. 

In his debut red-ball series as skipper, Stokes has tasted success in an emphatic manner. Excited with the win, the all-rounder reckoned that the performances in the last three games have certainly sent the message to the players hoping to don England whites in the next few years. 

"These last three games should have sent the message to people who aspire to play Test cricket for England over the next two or three years," Stokes said.

The 31-year-old added that the players would be judged on the basis of the style of their play and the capability to complement the current England team. 

"It's not necessarily your stats or anything like that. It's the manner that you play which is probably going to be first and foremost on the selectors' minds."

He reckoned that the people have started to enjoy Test cricket again, and the players watching the game will have a fair idea of banging the doors with a mindset well suited to the team.

"What I think we've done over the last three weeks is make people enjoy watching Test cricket again. And I'd like to think that people watching know what they have to do to try and bang the door down and get in this team."

Stokes was happy with the efforts of all the players, and also admitted that he did not expect this kind of success in the Test series.