Stokes all set for lift-off
BEN Stokes is “desperate” to be a match-winner for England again, according to team-mate Mark Wood.
Wood believes the all-rounder can reignite his summer against India at Headingley today and he pointed out that big occasions like this series decider demand the big players stand up.
And while he conceded the crunch match will also bring out the best of superstar India captain Virat Kohli, he is convinced England’s talisman is ready for blast-off.
“This is a chance for him to prove how good he is again,” said Wood. “He doesn’t need to of course, as everyone knows how good a player he is but, coming back from a bit of time out, he’s probably desperate to do well and be that matchwinner again.
“It takes a bit of time to get your form and rhythm back but I am sure the more he plays, the better he’ll get.”
Stokes has endured constant interruptions since his arrest in Bristol last September, missing the Ashes and ODI series in Australia before returning for the tour of New Zealand.
Stokes played in the first Test against Pakistan but injured a REPORTS hamstring before the second here at Headingley, then missed the white-ball action against Australia. He appears to have struggled for rhythm since his return, making 14 in the final T20 of the three-match series against India back in Bristol, an uncharacteristically slow 103-ball 50 at Trent Bridge, then five at Lord’s. He has also failed to take a wicket in the last two ODIs. But with the series on the line and bragging rights for World Cup favouritism up for grabs – England retain their No 1 ranking whatever happens – the stage could not be better set for the all-rounder. Wood said: “India are a quality team so they have a game plan for him and it might just take him a little bit of time to work out certain situations. “But he has really good gamemanagement on the field. The other day, while he scored slowly for him – which is unusual – it is about gamemanagement. We lost a few wickets so he wanted to make sure. If that lad [Siddarth Kaul at backward point] hadn’t taken a spectacular catch then maybe he gets 80 and then cracks on quickly later and everyone says how much he has matured, that he has played the situation well.”
England are poised to make one change, with Jason Roy likely to miss out with an injury to his right little finger, sustained in the field at Lord’s.
James Vince is in line to be drafted in as his replacement for his first ODI since 2016 in Bangladesh.
Vince, who was dropped by England earlier this summer after disappointing returns in Australia and New Zealand, is fortunate to get the call. Alex Hales would have been first choice but suffered a side strain before the opening contest of this series.
Sam Billings has been called up as batting cover and substitute fielder.
India will make a late decision on the fitness of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with the experienced seamer looking likely to replace Kaul.
And if Wood singled out Stokes as one who could rise to the occasion, it was not only good manners that saw him balance the scales with praise for India’s captain as another for whom such stages are made.
He said: “For us, it’s not just one lad [Stokes] that can do that. If you look down the line-up we bat down to No 10 so any one of that batting line-up can change a game for us.
“David Willey came in the other day when it was a bit sticky and managed to really press on. Big games call for big players. But Kohli will be right up for it and he’s the biggest of all. We have to make sure we are at the same intensity and level.”