Top all-round battle expected in series

CRICKET: Ben Stokes will be out to prove he is the world’s premier all-rounder ahead of Jason Holder when England take on the West Indies next month, according to the tourists’ head coach Phil Simmons.

Windies captain Holder occupies top spot in the International Cricket Council Test all-rounder rankings above Stokes, who since the start of last year has averaged 47.39 with the bat and 32.6 with the ball.

Impressive as those figures unquestionably are, Holder has a better record in the same period – 49.14 with the bat and 17.25 with the ball – albeit from only five Tests, nine fewer than Stokes.

However, Simmons believes the pair’s competitive natures could prove an intriguing subplot to the three-Test series.

“The rivalry is always there because I think Ben is the type of person who wants to be No 1 and when Jason is up there, (Stokes) is always going to be looking to do his best to get up to Jason’s position,” said Simmons.

“I know Jason wants to be No 1, that’s why he’s there and he wants to keep that. The rivalry will be there throughout the series and whenever the two guys are playing...they’re competitive in all aspects so I think that rivalry is going to be huge for this series.”

■ England will pay tribute to the key workers of the coronavirus pandemic during the three-Test series against the West Indies.

Before the opening day of the first Test starts at the Ageas Bowl on July 8, England will wear training tops bearing the names of key workers nominated by their local cricket clubs. The people named on the shirts include teachers, doctors, nurses, carers, social workers and other vital professions.