Stokes or bust for Poms, says Sir Viv
WEST Indies great Sir Viv Richards has incredibly claimed England look like “kittens” without controversial all-rounder Ben Stokes.
Stokes has been suspended by England pending a police investigation following a brawl in Bristol.
Now, Richards believes England lack the heart and stomach to beat Australia, particularly with their “fragile” middle order.
As the fearsome rivalry that is the Ashes gets set to reignite, Sir Viv said: “I’m a fan of Ben Stokes.
“I feel England do need that all-rounder with a little bit of heart and brings some stomach into the game as well.
“He’s solid physically. I think you need all this stuff Down Under because the Aussies ... they bring it.
“It will be quite crucial (to have him) in Australia.
“Let me say this, without Ben Stokes the English team is going to look like kittens in my opinion.”
Sir Viv said he had not been impressed with England’s middle order batsmen in the recent Test series with the West Indies.
“What I saw when I came here (England) … the middle order was a bit fragile,” he said.
“They kept chopping and changing (the order).
“You can get away with that against West Indies, I’m not sure you will against Australia.”
Stokes is set to face the England Cricket Board for a disciplinary hearing as early as tomorrow, with an expectation the superstar allrounder could be cleared for an Ashes return.
Much still depends on whether an assault investigation by Bristol police amounts to anything but there’s a prevailing feeling inside England cricket that Stokes is likely to be suspended for two Tests and therefore available to return for the third Test in Perth from December 16.
Such a ban would allow him to recover from the fractured hand he suffered in the incident which had him in hot water; and warm up with a two-day match in Perth a couple of days out from the Test.
England’s Ashes pace stocks took another hit with Steve Finn sent home from Australia due a knee injury sustained in Perth.
Finn, a 36-Test seamer, had been called up as cover for Stokes.
England are already without workhorse Toby Roland Jones, while Finn tore his left knee cartilage in a batting incident last weekend in Perth.
England’s reliance on veterans James Anderson and Stuart Broad is more pronounced with all-rounder Moeen Ali also sidelined from the four-day tour match in Adelaide against the CA XI.
I FEEL ENGLAND DO NEED THAT ALL-ROUNDER WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HEART ...