After their heavy 10-wicket defeat at the Gabba, Jonhenry Wilson shares his strong opinion that England should swallow their pride and urgently recall Ben Stokes.
England was noticeably missing a genuine all-rounder in the first Ashes Test, and many are wondering if it’s time they put pride aside and bring Ben Stokes back into the team.
Their line-up in Brisbane was noticeably off balance. Chris Woakes, while handy with both bat and ball, just doesn’t fulfill the role of a true Test all-rounder.
If England chooses to keep Jonny Bairstow, despite accusations of head-butting Cameron Bancroft, then it only makes sense to welcome Stokes back despite the infamous street brawl in Bristol. Though there might be more video evidence against Bairstow than Stokes, both incidents were equally unacceptable but ultimately forgivable.
Near the end of Kevin Pietersen’s international career, there was a constant call for England to reconsider their stance and reinstate the occasionally disruptive batsman. They never did, and their middle order has never quite recovered since. Even now, fans and analysts alike ponder what might have happened if the charismatic right-hander had enjoyed a couple more years with the Three Lions.
Bringing Stokes back would show England have learned from that experience. Though he may still face legal challenges outside the cricket field, his on-field performance remains outstanding.
Currently, Stokes is likely to play domestic cricket in New Zealand, his country of birth, who are eager to have a player of his caliber. Regardless of off-field issues, losing such a talented batsman and bowler to the game—at least domestically—would be a significant loss.
He hasn’t played competitive cricket for over two months. A stint with Canterbury will offer him much-needed game time and help him maintain match fitness until England calls him up again.
Meanwhile, the England squad must heed warnings from Andrew Strauss and others. The behaviour of Stokes and Bairstow suggests a rough edge within the squad that must be tempered, especially on foreign soil and during the high-pressure Ashes series, where media scrutiny is intense.
All eyes are now on Chris Woakes. Given a pivotal role in the absence of Stokes, he has yet to fully step up. Although he is a different style of cricketer, the demands of an England Test all-rounder remain the same. England might instead consider selecting leg-spinner Mason Crane for the historic first day-night Ashes Test in Adelaide.
The views expressed here are those of the author in his personal capacity and do not reflect the official stance of Hollywoodbets.
