Sober & out

LEGEND TIPS OZ AFTER BEN KO

SIR GARFIELD SOBERS terrorised batsmen and savaged bowling attacks for 20 destructive years as the greatest all-rounder in world cricket.

So it is no surprise the West Indian legend is unhappy England’s Ben Stokes will not be strutting his stuff when the latest Ashes battle bursts into life this week.

Sadly, like Sobers, now 81, Stokes will be at home watching the biggest series the game has to offer on his TV.

More importantly, according to Sobers, who smashed 8,032 runs and took 235 wickets in 93 Tests, the damage done to England’s hopes of retaining the little urn by his absence is crystal clear.

Sobers, a real fan of the swashbuckling Durham star who is still awaiting the outcome of the police investigation into his Bristol city-centre bust-up, said: “If Stokes was playing, I’d give England the edge. Without him I think Australia may just nick it.

“I like Stokes as a player. He is a great cricketer and one hell of an all-rounder. He is the kind of player I like to watch because he plays it his own way.

“England will miss him and struggle a bit because they lose a lot from both their batting and bowling. The Australians will be a lot more happy and relaxed without him there.

“England still have a chance but without Stokes it is going to be much more difficult.”

Sobers supports the decision to omit Stokes, 26, and hopes he will come back to the game a wiser man.

He added: “England will miss him but sometimes you have to cut your face to spoil your features. Your country comes first and not the cricket. “There are certain things that you expect of your team because they are representing the country. “The way you behave yourself is very important. Stokes has not behaved in the best way and he is suffering for that. I w o u l d BEN AND GONE: England must cope without Stokes hope he will learn from what happened because he’s a damn good cricketer.”

But Sobers is much more optimistic about England’s other potential match-winners in bowling duo Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson, and batting pair Joe Root and Alastair Cook.

He said: “England have two of the best new-ball bowlers in the world. People keep saying they are older and write them off but why?

“If you keep doing the business there’s nothing they can really say. Even if they were both 50 and still performing, age should not go against them.

“To see what Anderson has achieved over the years has been wonderful.

“To be England’s record Test wicket-taker is tremendous and shows what a consistent and quality performer he has been. He still seems very fit. He is still swinging the ball with good control and is still bowling as quick. “Broad will be another bowler who the Australians will be worried about. To get eight wickets for just 15 in the last Ashes in England was outstanding.

“And he also took 6-17 against South Africa last year. To do that you have to be a great bowler. “Then you have a spinner in Moeen Ali who has improved his bowling consistently and also his batting.

“He is a very useful player and without Stokes to balance the batting line-up, Ali will need to play an important role there.”

As for the captain, Sobers (below) said: “Root is a wonderful player. I put him in my top three a long time ago because I enjoy watching cricketers who play the game the way it should be – that’s to be positive and take the game to the opposition.

“He’s always looking to score and the

England top order will need some big scores.

Pitches in

Australia are usually very good for batting and I’d think that the likes of Root and

Cook should enjoy them.”