NICK HOWSON: The England Test captain revels in securing a series win in Pakistan following a thrilling 26-run victory in Multan
A moment in time for England in Pakistan is not lost on Ben Stokes, despite the captain remaining focused on how his side continues to approach Test cricket.
Victory in Multan by 26 runs secured an unassailable 2-0 lead with one Test to play and a first series victory in Pakistan for 22 years.
The hosts resumed needing another 157 runs to complete their second-highest successful run chase and draw the series level. But either side of lunch, England took their six remaining second-innings wickets to sparked yet muted celebrations.
"I think it says we're quite good," said Stokes following the third series victory under his stewardship. "One thing we do is we stay in the moment.
"And don't take this kind of stuff and form for granted, and always keep the mantra of is bigger than what we're trying to do.
Celebration time for the tourists (Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
"What we're trying to do is bigger than results and that kind of stuff but it helps when you're winning and the way we're winning.
"The guys who I've got in the squad, the guys who step out on the field and the guys who unfortunately miss out, are all in it together and believe in what we're trying to do.
"It is a very special time to be an England cricketer."
The key moment on day four appeared to come on the stroke of lunch when Mark Wood, playing his first Test for nine months, dismissed Mohammad Nawaz and Saud Shakeel in successive overs.
"For him to produce two wickets at crucial times was a real game-changing moment," Stokes admitted. "That's what we bought him into the team to do, bowl fast and come on and change a game.
Wood struck three times either side of lunch (Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
"What made it slightly easier for him was the clarity and role he would play. We knew we had to use his assets to our advantage.
"We don't feel the Pakistan batters tend to like it up top when you're bowling short at them.
"That was a massive time in the game for us and it took us into the lunch break up in the game again."
Since succeeding Joe Root in April, Stokes has won eight of his nine Tests in permanent charge, steering England to series wins over New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan. Victory over India at Edgbaston, the fifth Test of a series carried over from the previous summer, also salvaged a 2-2 series draw.
The Stokes-McCullum show is displaying no sign of easing up (Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
But, naturally, it is the journey the England men's team are currently on in the most extended format that gives the skipper the most satisfaction.
"I didn't really look at it like that when I first got the job. I just wanted to come in and try and change a few things up and get things going in a different direction," he added to Sky Sports.
"I'm someone who didn't focus too much on the results when I came into the job, obviously focusing on the bigger picture.
"But it has been an amazing nine games to start off with and I feel very honoured and privileged to be involved with something like this and having everyone not just the players but the backroom staff being on the same path has been really good."
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.