Ben Stokes announcing that he would be a last-minute addition to England’s Ashes touring party has breathed life into a series that was threatening to be a one-sided affair.
Australia has not been very kind to England over the last two decades and aside from a successful tour down under in 2010-11, the tourists have lost a remarkable 18 out of 20 Tests in the country.
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When England named its initial squad earlier this month without the likes of Stokes and Jofra Archer, both aces up skipper Joe Root’s sleeve, the tourists looked to be headed towards another Ashes hiding.
The reverberating impact of Stokes’ words of “I am ready for Australia” is already being felt in the English camp.
“With those five dramatic words from Ben Stokes, England’s Ashes prospects improved immeasurably,” former England captain Michael Atherton wrote in The Times.
“There is no doubt that his presence will be a huge boost to the team. Root will feel emboldened now that the Ashes touring party is almost at full-strength.”
Fellow ex-England captain Nasser Hussain said the 30-year-old’s inclusion for the start of the Ashes series is “an unexpected bonus” for the tourists.
“Stokes is absolutely vital to the England team. His addition to the Ashes squad will give everyone a lift. It is not just his immense contribution with bat, ball and in the field but his sheer presence,” Hussain wrote in the Daily Mail.
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“He is the heartbeat of that side and suddenly England’s hopes of succeeding in the series have improved dramatically. Stokes is the ultimate team man and the England players will be thrilled to have him back.
“Big characters are needed in Australia more than anywhere. You need players who stand up to the Aussies, who can look them in the eye and not take a backward step in a hostile environment.”
Much has been made about the fear factor Stokes possesses to the Australian camp, particularly after his incredible match-winning exploits at Headingley during the most recent Ashes series, which finished drawn.
It’s something that 2005 Ashes-winning England captain Michael Vaughan thinks is real.
“Without Stokes, I would not have given England a chance in Australia; with him, they have a glimmer of hope – and maybe a bit more than that,” he wrote in The Telegraph.
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“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.
“Crucially, he is also a player that 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.
“Ashes series are so often defined by the big names – think Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting. It is a stage for players with ego and self-belief, and Stokes has bucketloads of that.”
Both Atherton and Vaughan also touched on the balance Stokes brings to England’s line-up with his all-round ability.
“Without him and the bowling option he gives Root, there has been a serious issue in how you get a specialist spinner in the team – hence why Jack Leach has spent so much of this year carrying drinks,” Vaughan wrote.
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“Now, England can play three other specialist pace bowlers, with Stokes giving them a fourth option to bowl a few sharp overs here and there, and Leach can slot in to give England a proper spin option. It just looks a much better-balanced attack.”
“As a genuine all-rounder, a rare beast in Test cricket, Stokes will allow Root to balance his side in a way that was difficult against India this summer,” Atherton wrote.
“His return will be good news for Jack Leach, as the principal spinner; a balanced side in Australia should certainly include a spinner in all but the most extreme conditions and a five-man attack will encourage that.”
With Australia’s vaccination rates allowing for greater freedoms, not being confined to a bubble will no doubt help Stokes, having played a part in his struggles by his own admission.
“I had also been struggling with bubble life and events off the field. I don’t want anyone to feel the way I did, because I wasn’t in a good place and I’m not afraid to admit it,” Stokes wrote in The Mirror.
“I was in a real dark place and having some difficult thoughts. I was always one of those people who wouldn’t talk about how they are feeling and just keep it internal and crack on. I now realise talking is such a powerful thing and it has completely changed me.”
https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1452583772839362567https://twitter.com/melindafarrell/status/1452558426882510849https://twitter.com/AlisonMitchell/status/1452560750736777218
The reaction has also been felt on the Australian side of things, with former Australian quick Brett Lee touching on the impact of the all-rounder’s inclusion.
“Any side with that quality all-rounder in will be a lot better chance to beat Australia,” Lee told Fox Sports’ World Cup Live.
“He’s a genuine fast bowler … Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson are the two front-line bowlers. Now Ben Stokes can bowl some decent gas too, so it’s fantastic.”
This year’s Ashes series will get underway on December 8, with the first Test to take place at the Gabba in Brisbane.