No. This inept team was beyond saving

England have been such a shambles during the Ashes, Ben Stokes would have been powerless to prevent the carnage. Even if the suspended all-rounder had been able to join the squad, his presence alone wouldn’t have stopped Australia’s domination.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said Stokes should be ‘‘hurting’’ more than anyone in the dressing room after being omitted from the touring party for his alleged involvement in a Bristol street brawl in the early hours of September 25.

Rather than blame Stokes, the finger must be pointed at England’s senior batsmen and leading pace bowler Stuart Broad, who have been pitiful.

The main reason Australia romped to an unassailable 3-0 lead and regained the urn was because England’s two best batsmen failed to fire and Broad bowled like a county battler.

Skipper Joe Root, supposedly one of the top three batsmen in the world, was completely outshone by Australian opposite Steve Smith, averaging just 29, and not scoring a century. Veteran Alastair Cook is a shadow of his former self, accumulating a paltry 83 runs from six innings.

Broad, for so long the leader of the attack, was ineffectual, taking five wickets at 61, and didn’t make the key breakthroughs.

Stokes might have chipped in with the odd half century and some wickets, but like the rest of the English batsmen would have struggled against Australia’s formidable attack, who excel in home conditions.

Sure, a fully-fit Stokes is capable of being a difference-maker, but England were so inept his impact wouldn’t have changed Australia’s series-clinching advantage.

Quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, bowling together for the first time at test level, have been outstanding as a unit, teaming up for 45 English scalps. Offspinner Nathan Lyon showed why he’s in the form of his life, offering something England don’t have, a quality spinner.

As it’s transpired, Stokes has been mostly ordinary since returning to cricket with Canterbury, his birth province and where his parents reside.

Aside from a scintillating 93 from 47 balls in a Twenty20 match against Otago last Thursday, he hasn’t done much with the bat, amassing 53 runs from the other four innings.

He’s looked lethargic with the ball, taking two wickets in his five 50-over and T20 appearances, while leaking plenty of runs.

Take away his stellar knock against the Volts and Canterbury’s controversial signing could just be another domestic cricketer running about, hardly the world’s premier all-rounder.

Stokes wouldn’t have stopped the Ashes annihilation.