Ben Stokes, who had not played any cricket since March 2021, hobbled off the field on Day 2 with a knee injury and bowled a number of no-balls to David Warner before that and former Australian batsman Michael Hussey said that all of it is indicative of the all-rounder’s lack of preparation going into the series.
Ben Stokes’s lack of preparation in terms of recent game experience will be a concern for England in the Ashes, said former Australia batsman Michael Hussey.
Ben Stokes Struggling With A Knee Injury And Has Come Into The Ashes 2021/22 With Limited Preparation: Michael Hussey
Ben Stokes had been dismissed for just five runs in England’s first innings and then went for 65 runs for no wickets in the 12th over. The 30-year-old also hobbled off the field with what looked like a knee injury on Day 2, although he came back to bowl on Friday.
“It will be a huge concern for England. He is a world-class all-rounder and such a key man in the team. He offers so much balance, virtually three players in one,” Hussey said.
“He looked like he was struggling with a knee injury that seemed to be getting even more sore as the match wore on.”
Michael Hussey said that it was always going to be a challenge for Ben Stokes to get back into the groove in an Ashes series in Australia after not playing any cricket for a long period. Ben Stokes’ last competitive game was when he captained the Northern Superchargers against Trent Rockets in The Hundred.
“We knew that it was going to be a challenge for him coming into the series because he was coming in with very limited preparation. He hasn’t played for five or six months and it isn’t easy to come straight into an Ashes series and have an impact. Lack of preparation has certainly showed.”
“Even in his bowling, those big no-balls against David Warner also showed a lack of rhythm coming in. When you have been playing lots of cricket and you are in your groove, that sort of thing doesn’t happen, so it is a big concern for England moving forward,” said Hussey.
Ben Stokes averages 37.05 in 71 Tests, where he amassed 4631 runs with 10 tons and has also taken 163 scalps averaging 31.38 with the ball in hand before the 1st Ashes Test. His name wasn’t included in the Ashes 2021/22 initial squad.
Ben Stokes took an indefinite break from cricket in July to focus on his mental health while also recovering from a second operation on a broken finger, and was a late addition to England’s squad for the tour of Australia. Ben Stokes broke his hand, taking a catch for Rajasthan Royals in India leg of IPL 2021, and a repeat X-ray and CT scan revealed that he has a fracture of his left index finger.
But the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) later announced that Ben Stokes would be available for the series. An injured Ben Stokes missed the New Zealand and India Test series in England, the second half of IPL 2021 at UAE, 2021 T20I World Cup to prioritize his mental wellbeing over cricket.
Pat Cummins Picked Ben Stokes To Claim His 1st Scalp As Skipper; Dawid Malan And Joe Root Forges An Unbeaten 159 Run Stand To Help England Reduce Deficit
The pair of Joe Root and Dawid Malan shared an unbeaten 159-run stand with Joe Root making 86 not out while Dawid Malan finished on 80 not out to leave England just 58 runs behind at stumps on day three with eight wickets in hand. After Australia was bowled out for 425 eight overs shy of lunch, England’s openers have been dismissed either side of the break.
The duo of Joe Root and Dawid Malan came together at 2 for 61 midway through the day with England 207 runs behind and staring an innings defeat in the face. Earlier, Travis Head made his second Test 150 to help Australia build their mammoth first-innings lead.
England 2 for 220 (Root 86*, Malan 80*, Cummins 1-43) and 147 trail Australia 425 (Head 152, Warner 94, Labuschagne 74, Robinson 3-58, Wood 3-85) by 58 runs