Ben Stokes took over as England captain in 2022. Captain Ben Stokes has insisted England do not have to make a "massive change", despite their 4-1 hammering in Australia. England came in for criticism for their approach on and off the field during the Ashes tour, but a review into the series did not lead to changes in management.

Director of cricket Rob Key and head coach Brendon McCullum remain in their posts, while Stokes will lead England into the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on Thursday (11:00 BST).

"Honestly, it's not rocket science," all-rounder Stokes told BBC Sport. "We know how to win games of cricket, but we admit that sometimes, especially over the past 18 months, we've contributed towards losing games of cricket on too much of a consistent basis."

Stokes, who turns 35 on the first day of the three-Test series, took charge of England in 2022. His win percentage as captain – 54.76% - is the best of any England men's captain in the past 45 years. But despite losing only one home series since 2014, England have fallen short of winning marquee series against India and Australia. A 2-2 draw at home with India last summer was followed by the dismal Ashes. That disappointment was compounded by pre-series expectations that England could win down under for the first time 2010-11, especially with Australia so badly hit by injuries to key players.

Speaking to the media for the first time since losing the fifth Ashes Test in January, Stokes said: "Obviously it hurt. Anyone who thinks losing any series, let alone an Ashes away from home when you went there with big expectations – if that doesn't hurt, then it would be a bit silly to not feel like that. "Time is a great healer. You go through a lot of emotions. You sort of make things up in your head, but when you go over things in detail, it actually becomes pretty simple. You're very clear in your head about what you want to do going forward."

"It's not massive change, to be honest. As much as people want to hear us say that, it's not. It's being a lot smarter in those big moments in games, because I will admit that consistently when we were in the balance, when it was neither one way nor the other, we consistently let ourselves down."

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After England revealed the outcomes of the Ashes review in March, Stokes posted a passionate message to supporters on social media. "I love being England captain and I have got so much more to give to this role," Stokes wrote on Instagram.

Asked on Wednesday if he thought his team needed to rebuild the relationship with supporters, Stokes said: "I've never thought there was an issue with our relationship with supporters. We know that losing games of cricket hurts them as much as it hurts us. It hurts to see a team that you support and have given a lot of time to go out there and lose, especially the way that we did it. It sucks, and it also sucks to be a part of as a player."

"I'm not sure what needs to be mended, because we absolutely love everyone who supports English cricket and we always feel that support. We're still going out there to make people feel happy they support a team who know what they're trying to do."

On Tuesday, England trimmed their initial 15-man squad down to 12 players. On a wet Wednesday at Lord's, and with more rain forecast across the Test, Stokes declined to finalise his XI. When the 12 was named, head coach McCullum suggested off-spinner Shoaib Bashir will have a place in the team, but Stokes said that plan could change if the toss is significantly delayed and the match shortened.

Stokes did reveal that Ollie Robinson and Gus Atkinson are in line to take the new ball, meaning the uncapped Sonny Baker would be the seamer to miss out if England opt for Bashir. Robinson will play his first Test in more than two years after being dropped by England following the tour of India in early 2024.

The 32-year-old has an excellent record in Test cricket, averaging less than 23 in his 20 matches. But England grew frustrated with his fitness record – Robinson suffered back injuries that limited his involvement in each of his past two Tests: against India in Ranchi, and against Australia at Headingley in 2023.

"Skill-wise, I hope he's the same bowler," said Stokes. "We've spoken to Ollie and he knows the reason he's found himself back here is because he's done what we've wanted to see from him and told him. For him, the easy part was getting back in, because he's always that good. Now he's here, it's about staying here for as long as he can."

"The time away from the team, as frustrating as it probably was for him, hopefully we see Ollie Robinson being in an England shirt for the next four, five, six years, because he's a very good bowler."

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