So Ben Stokes will be coming to Australia for the Ashes? That’s not really a surprise, given England originally chose a 17-man squad.
Many assumed the touring party would be topped up with one or two players from the Lions team, which will be touring at the same time as the Ashes squad arrives in Australia.
That the 18th position was left open for Stokes makes sense, but also closes off some opportunities for other match-ready players who might have been a chance to participate in an Ashes tour.
The two squads will play a couple of practice matches, which will now assume real significance, given Stokes’ lack of match practice. The last time he held a bat in any kind of match was a T20 game on July 26 and he’s had no involvement in Test cricket since February.
What’s been interesting is the reaction from different people in England. Ashley Giles, the managing director of cricket, was positive but circumspect:
“Time and time again, Ben has demonstrated how important he is to the England team and having him available for the Ashes series is excellent news,” Giles said.
“Having not played for some time, we will move forward cautiously over the next few weeks to ensure he is fully prepared across all facets of his game…
“We continue to remain mindful of the stresses on all our personnel, and our primary focus continues to be the wellbeing of all of our players.”
On the other hand, Michael Vaughan was far more provocative:
“Stokes is the engine of this England team, the guy who powers them. Not only does he contribute massively himself, he lifts the performances of those around him, inspiring, cajoling and driving up standards,” the former captain wrote in the UK Daily Telegraph.
“Crucially, he is also a player Australia fear. The scars he inflicted on them at Headingley two years ago will not have fully healed, and the sight of him walking out at Brisbane – or wherever he manages to play his first Test – will send a few shivers up local spines.”
I wonder if he thought about these words before he published them?
There’s no doubt England are a more confident team when Stokes plays, mostly because of the team balance an all-rounder brings.
It’s a tad worrying though when he not only has to do two jobs, bat and bowl, but also has to take on roles usually undertaken by captains, that is he “lifts the performances of those around him, inspiring, cajoling and driving up standards”.
I guess his absence also explains some of England’s recent results, after all if he’s not playing, who does these things?
(Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images)
The obvious Vaughan comment that will generate plenty of replies is about the Australian team fearing Stokes.
There’s no doubt Australia and rest of the Test world has plenty of respect for Stokes. On his day, he’s a world-class performer with bat and ball, who can also take some very handy catches in the slips.
In saying that, I can’t see why Australia will be fearful. He’s an okay batsman and an okay bowler at Test level who can do some very good things from time to time, but still averages under 40 with the bat and over 30 with the ball.
I also hardly think Stokes walking out to bat will send shivers up anyone’s spine, especially when this would be first time he’s batted in a Test in ten months or more.
If anything, I’d have thought Stokes would be the one having the shivers, given the weight of expectations being placed on his shoulders to perform.
(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Australia have a world-class attack, with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in very good form. By the time the Ashes rolls around, along with Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser, they would have plenty of overs under their belts and will be ready to go in Brisbane.
Stokes on the other hand, will have had net practice with the Lions squad and some warm up innings in the inter-squad practice matches, assuming of course weather doesn’t affect those.
That’s not a lot of cricket to fall back on when going out to bat in front of a friendly Australian crowd at the Gabba(toir), especially if England’s fragile batting order fails.
There’s an assumption Stokes will be fully fit, physically and mentally. I’ve already questioned whether he will be match fit for the first Test, especially if he has to bowl more than a handful of overs.
There’s also no guarantee his finger will hold up to batting in Tests conditions, especially in Brisbane, where the ball gets up far more than in England.
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Then there’s the elephant in the room – Stokes’ mental state. His recent comments in the media seem to show a very upbeat person, extremely keen to get back playing and even keener to do well in the Ashes:
“I’m buzzing for the Ashes. Just buzzing,” he wrote for The Mirror.
“I do realise Australia is one of the toughest places to tour, but also one of the greatest places to tour. It is a special event in cricket and I want to help our team as best I can.
“I know what it is going to be like, especially the crowds, I’ve experienced it before and I say bring it on.”
Jimmy Anderson has urged Australian players to “keep it respectable”; that is, show some more respect with the verbal comments, but both players and fans will remember the reception dealt out to Dave Warner and Steve Smith when they toured England two years ago.
I doubt we’ll hear the same booing and other unsavoury comments, but I’m equally sure Stokes’ mental fortitude will be fully tested, as will the mental toughness of the rest of England’s players.
Ben Stokes says “bring it on”. There’ll be an Australian XI and thousands of fans more than happy to oblige.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Smith, Hazelwood, Cummins, Starc, Warner? Have they played a red ball game in a year? We’re at huge risk
Paul
Roar Guru
last week was the last time, but I take your point, unless the guys get back and get at least one Shield game under their belts, they'll have no red ball form to fall back on
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
When was the last white ball cricket half our team played let alone test matches? Brisbane is a coin toss given that and if we lose there…..
Paul
Roar Guru
agreed if that was the only issue but throw in the various injuries Stokes has had and his position and Puckovksi's are far more difficult, Ditto for Tim Paine.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Warner could be the Sonny Bill Williams of cricket. Or the Drew Mitchell
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
If not batting in a test match for 10 months is a problem, we’re f£&ked.
Frank delosa
Guest
Help us all if Warner becomes a commentator after retiring. If it happens Ill become a fulltime ABC Grandstand listener. Warner needs to shave off that ludicrous lip slug and focus on his Ashes batting skills. I actually have a feeling he might score 30+ against SL tonight but then be out cheap vs Eng and the remaining T20 opponents. However, a small score vs SL tonight will lock him in all Summer regardless of form. Uzzy batting himself into the likley partner for Warner in the tests, considering Pucovski has done literally nothing since last season.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
We’re not gonna let the horrendous performance from England 9 down 73 to win off the hook by zeroing in on the batting. Our 3rd innings batting, Labuschagne aside, was ordinary, to put it mildly, but that’s the beauty of take a 112 run lead into the 3rd innings, you can make a meal of it and still set them what should be an unreachable target, and has been all bar 12 occasions in 145 years of test cricket, including that one. If we had only led by half as much, then the target when Leach comes in is only 17, and that’s a nail biter from the start, so then we might start zeroing in on the batting, which was actually horrendous in both innings, bar Labuschagne in both innings, and to a lesser extent Warner in the first.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Exactly, don’t think Stoinis has played red ball cricket since 2019-20. Hard to see them going back to Burns. Harris or Khawaja possible if Pucovski not considered. Maxwell no chance I think.
Clear as mud
Guest
I suspect he has the Beefy factor. Botham was huge in both England's wins in 86-7, despite patchy form either side of that summer. Stoles was a greenhorn and about the only fighter in 13-14. Not just Perth, but also his twin scores in Sydney. He came in at 5-23 and played a clam almost 50. Then an up yours 32 from 16 bashathon in the second. Something for us to think about next time. He started well in 2015 In 2019 he also made the ton at Lords, as well as two 50's. so clearly he likes batting against us. --- In Sydney 2013 he also took 8 wickets for the match. He fiinished 2015 strongly with a 6 and a 3. And at Headingley last time his middle order wickets kept us from setting 400 (and winning). --- His batting will be much more dangerous here. But his overs and wickets will allow England 3 proper seamers and Leach. We would die to have a player like that - hopefully Green becomes even better. In fact Langer should tell Green his job is to neutralise Stokes - by doing as well, by having as many big moments. Burns Hameed Malan Root Stokes Pope A keeper Woakes etc Robinson Leach Anderson etc has at least a competitive look to it.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Case in point regarding Root’s tons: in the recent test when India were bowled out for 78, he went to the wicket with this virtual reality: India forfeited their first innings completely, and the test was reduced to four days. The first day was begun 40 minutes past the scheduled start time, the other three on time as normal. At that delayed 40-minute mark, England were allowed to start their first innings at 2 for 81. Meanwhile, the previous evening and those aforementioned 40 minutes, India’s bowlers were required to go through the motions of bowling the overs they bowled up until England reached that 2 for 159 score line. The only condition imposed on England, was that the not out batsman when Root went in had to also be out there for as long as he had been, and had to do the relevant running up and down the pitch, but he was also allowed to start on the score he was on when Root came in. His ton at Trent Bridge in 2015 was made in the exact same circumstances. I wrote about his 2013 Lords ton a few days ago. His Cardiff innings in 2015 was a major exception to the Root rule and even then he gave a simple chance before he had even scored.
Clear as mud
Guest
again with the Wade? why? what's your theory?
matth
Roar Guru
Until last year Joe Root averaged 59.5 in wins, which sounds good until you realise that placed him 64th in cricket history. behind such giants as Kragg Brathwaite and Mominul Haque.
matth
Roar Guru
I'd say Khawaja is the back up if nobody else raised their hand.
matth
Roar Guru
Well of course he's great. Only his centuries count.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Yep. Obviously, he is a real dangerman, no denying that. However, there is no reason to not have enough self-belief that they can subjugate him to enough of a degree to win the series, especially considering with Stokes in the team, we drew 2-2 on their turf, and that was with some very ordinary captaincy by Paine. And if he had batted first at the Oval we would very likely have won 3-1 in any case.
Frank delosa
Guest
Marnus batting himself back into form in the Shield clash. Good to see. Street failed so Burns is firming to stand at Warners partner (again) with each run he makes in the same game. Which is 1 run more than Pucovski has made this season. Pick the blokes who earned it, not the blokes who are picked on promise (Mitch Marsh prime example from days of yore) Im expecting a large Ashes squad, of which Stoinis, Maxwell, Neser, Uzzy will all feature but none will play. Warne is incessentaly pushing for Stoinis in the test side. I think Warnes latest botox, or nip tuck, or tummy tuck has seeped into his brainal fluids.
DJM
Roar Rookie
When Vaughan goes on about the scars Stokes has supposedly inflicted on Australia, he conveniently forgets that in the following test Australia won the game and retained the Ashes. Some scars.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Vaughn et al playing up the importance of Ed Sheeran’s inclusion says a lot to me about the negativity these commentators have towards the rest of their squad.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
PS In such a situation, I am not so paranoid about the Stokes factor, I am far more terrified of the Paine factor.