England potential excites skipper Ben Stokes after Test series win over South Africa

England needed just 25 minutes at the Oval to complete a nine-wicket win over the Proteas in barely more than two days' actual playing time that secured a 2-1 series victory. It also meant England had won six out of seven Tests under a new leadership duo of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum -- a far cry from a record of one win in 17 matches that marked the end of Joe Root's reign as skipper. New Zealand, the World Test champions were beaten 3-0 before England defeated India in a one-off Test, held over from last year because of coronavirus concerns in the Indian camp, prior to seeing off the Proteas. All of those triumphs were marked by a willingness to engage in dashing run-chases, while removing as much pressure from players as possible, albeit much of England's success, as South Africa captain Dean Elgar noted, was built on traditional fundamentals of the red-ball game.

But they all took place on home soil and Stokes is determined England should "walk towards danger", in cricket terms, during their next Test series, a three-match tour of Pakistan in December. England have been without two injured fast bowlers in Jofra Archer and Mark Wood all season, but Stokes is excited by the prospect of both express quicks being available when his team try to regain the Ashes at home to arch-rivals Australia next year. "Who knows how far we can take this side over the next couple of years?," he said. "We've got two of our premium fast bowlers who have had big injuries this summer and have missed a lot of cricket. You add Jofra and Woody into the mix being fully fit -- it's scary to think where things could go, especially with the ball."

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