Colly: Let Stokes go four glory
PAUL COLLINGWOOD says Ben Stokes should be let loose if England want to save the series in India.
Alastair Cook’s men face a nearimpossible task of rescuing the tour from 2-0 down ahead of the fourth Test in Mumbai on Thursday.
Stokes is known for his all-action style, but there are fears about the 25-year-old’s workload since he plays all three forms of the game and does everything within them.
But Collingwood – Stokes’ Durham skipper for years – reckons there is no point trying to protect the all-rounder, and has urged Cook to promote him to No.4 in the batting if England are to salvage something from the series.
“When you’re No.4 you are almost straight on with the thigh pad as soon as you leave the field because a couple of wickets and you’re in,” said Collingwood.
“Ideally, you’d give him a bit of time to rest when you come off the park after being in the field and bowling, but some of the top world-class all-rounders have done that.”
Collingwood even believes Stokes should move up the batting order to No.4.
He said: “Some world-class all-rounders have done that – Jacques Kallis for one comes to mind.
“He probably is the best all-round cricketer that’s played the game and he was right up there at the top of the order so it’s something Ben would be desperate to do.”