The nightwatchman gets a re-think as part of England shift

It may sound more like a superhero alias than a role in a cricket team, but Ben Stokes has revealed how 'the Nighthawk' exemplifies England's mission to change the game.

Since Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum took charge of a misfiring Test team earlier this summer, they have enjoyed stunning success with a bold, ambitious approach.

Over the course of four successive victories and a quartet of remarkable chases they have attacked at every turn and delivered on their promises to challenge convention.

On Tuesday, they made history by hunting down a record target of 378 against India at Edgbaston thanks to a stunning stand of 269 between century-makers Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow.

But, when the pair came together on the fourth evening, Stokes was busy hatching an unlikely contingency plan.

Had either of the in-form duo been dismissed late in the day, he was preparing to send in Stuart Broad to swing with abandon instead of the traditional tactic of promoting a tail-ender to block out the rest of the day.

"We are looking at every situation we find ourselves in and asking what the positive thing to do is; for example, we've renamed what the nightwatchman is all about," he said.

"We've called it 'Nighthawk'. That was Broady. He was going to go out with half-an-hour left to play to try to literally slog. That's where we are at the moment. It's awesome."

Asked what a 'Nighthawk' might hope to achieve, Stokes accepted the idea might easily implode, adding mischievously: "30 off 10 balls, or nought off one."

Stokes' latest gambit hardly constitutes a revolution in itself, but it offers further insight into a regime that has already changed the structures around the national side.

Net sessions now last as long as a batter requires, with personal discretion the guiding factor rather than strict time slots, and pre-play warm-ups also a looser arrangement.

But the biggest change has been the spirit of adventure which the team has displayed after crossing the boundary rope. They have swiftly lifted the mood around the national team, with the feel-good factor spreading to the fans too.

Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Warwickshire all threw their gates open for free on day five and attracted thousands of supporters through the door, mirroring the approach of free tickets on the final day of Tests in Australia.

Stokes' predecessor Root is one of those flourishing in the new environment, with three centuries in the past four games taking him to a new career-high rating as he moves further clear of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne at the top of the ICC rankings.

While he was already the most accomplished technical player in the team, Root has shown a willingness to play with a greater freedom by adding a flamboyant reverse ramp for six to his arsenal in recent weeks.

"I didn't have any influence on that at all – that is Joe Root doing Joe Root things," said Stokes.

"When he played that reverse we just said, 'you're a freak to be able to do that, Joe'.

"I'm almost bored of talking about how good Rooty is but it is awesome to see him add another bit to his game, which I thought wasn't possible because of how good he already was."