We might need to con the lads into thinking they can win without Stokes

VAUGHAN ON ‘TACTICS’ ROOT MUST USE IN ASHES TO COPE WITH LOSS OF STAR BEN

JOE ROOT may have to “lie” and “con” his players into believing they can beat Australia when they head Down Under without Ben Stokes.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan reckons Root has got a major job on his hands to convince his players they are good enough to win an Ashes series for which Australia are heavy favourites.

And Mirror Sport understands that Root (right) has already started his mission with a four-day teambonding camp in Loughborough this week in the aftermath of the Stokes late-night saga.

Even head coach Trevor Bayliss showed how much it means by jetting back to the UK from Australia to take part and give some insight into the Aussie mentality before heading back to Oz where he will meet the squad when they arrive in Perth on October 29.

The end-of-season crisis appears to be galvanising the squad ahead of the tour but Vaughan believes Root’s job has been made much tougher by Stokes (above), arrested following an incident outside a nightclub in

Bristol last month.

“His greatest challenge as captain is to convince the team they can win,” said Vaughan, a BT Sport pundit.

“That is your biggest strength as a leader, to convince your team. It may be that he has to lie a bit and con them.

“He might have to blow up a few tyres that might be flat and convince them they are good enough to beat this Australian team. The Stokes situation has made it tougher. I am sure Australia respect a lot of our players, but the one they fear the most is not going to be there.

“I’ve not seen too many celebrations from the Australians but I am sure in private they have cracked open a few bottles. “I watch England walk out on the field and when Stokes is in the team they walk out two inches taller. “If he is not there in Brisbane you would have to say Australia are clear favourites to win the series.”

There is still huge uncertainty surrounding Stokes, who will not travel to Australia with the team, and Vaughan says his non-appearance would be like having David Warner missing for the Aussies.

Vaughan (right) added: “If Warner was injured next week and out of the Ashes I am sure you would find the England players celebrating. It is not disrespecting Alastair Cook but I would say Stokes is England’s second-best player with the bat. With the ball he is erratic at times but he has an impact.

“Can Joe convince them to play a style of cricket over a period to win? If they play the right style at the right time and capitalise, they’ve got a chance of winning the Ashes.”

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