Australia beware: Stokes is more committed than ever
England have played two Tests since the last Ashes series but signs are already emerging in India of the team who will challenge Australia at the end of next year.
Principal among those players is Ben Stokes, who is said to be more committed to his role as Test captain than ever, lifted by his recovery from knee surgery. He appears extraordinarily fit and agile again.
Stokes had his operation, which was more serious than let on at the time, only in November. It was unclear whether he would be fit enough to start this series, let alone think about Australia, but, just eight weeks later, he is in good condition, as shown by two outstanding pieces of fielding: his diving run-out of Ravindra Jadeja in the first Test, then his galloping and swooping catch in the deep of Shreyas Iyer in Vizag.
Before his surgery, the next Ashes tour felt a long way off for a player who has put his body through immense physical strain during his career, but barring any breakdown, his rigorous rehabilitation regime, which has included using his own strength and conditioning coach alongside the England staff, as well as giving up alcohol and cutting down on golf, is working.
Now he looks primed to lead England in Australia for the finale of his project with coach Brendon Mccullum. “He is stripping fit. He is putting in the work and moving so well,” Mccullum said. “It is hard to believe it has only been eight weeks since he had an operation but such is the level of dedication he has put back in. He is desperate to lead this team and he wants to take this team to whatever level he can take it, so he will do whatever he can to push himself. We are really happy with where he is at.”
Stokes judged his catch in the second Test as a moment when it became clear to him he was over the knee surgery. “When I was at extra cover, I felt I was able to move a lot better, throwing the ball in off balance. Before the surgery, that was something I found very hard and didn’t have much confidence doing,” he said.
“I don’t think I would have been able to take that catch before this surgery but the way I was able to move, the freedom that I felt, picking the ball up off balance. I can’t remember the last time I had grass burns, because I never dived as I was worried about my knee. I feel very good about my knee. Worked very hard to get to where I am now. Definitely ahead of schedule from when I went under the knife.”
It is not just Stokes’s fitness that has crystallised matters. Ollie Pope has stepped into the leadership group on this tour and been far more visibly involved in decision making than last summer, when he was first appointed vice-captain.
Stokes called him into the meeting with Mccullum the day before the second Test when they inspected the pitch and decided selection.
Runs help, of course, and he needs to maintain the form he started the series with in Hyderabad over the longer term but Pope is now sure to go to Australia as viceotherwise,
‘I don’t think I would have been able to take that catch before surgery – I’ve worked hard to get where I am now’
captain four years on from when he was humbled by their quicks.
Zak Crawley has matured into a Test opener over the past six months, justifying the patience of Stokes and Mccullum as well as living up to the promise spotted by many top-class ex-professionals who picked him out of the wreckage of the last Ashes tour as a prospect for the future.
Crawley backed up his Ashes with two fifties in Vizag and is averaging 53 at a strike rate of 85 since the start of last summer.
Rehan Ahmed is emerging as a possible first-choice spinner, which is a major bonus with the Ashes in mind because touring finger-spinners are rarely successful in Australia. In 2010-11, when England won 3-1, Graeme Swann still averaged a touch under 40.
Ahmed’s wrist-spin and his batting offer more of an all-round package than Jack Leach in Australia, if he continues his development.
Even James Anderson cannot be ruled out of another Ashes tour. It seems incredible but his resurgence in the second Test after a poor summer proved his belief that he was just down on fitness and form against Australia rather than ready for retirement.
The Test specialists have a very well-managed diary now. After this tour, Anderson will not play again for England until July. There is a six-month break at the end of December until the 2025 summer, too. Surely, Anderson will not be on the next Ashes tour aged 43, but it is impossible to write off any aspect of this team right now.