LEGEND SOBERS SAYS ENGLAND’S STOKES IS... The best since Botham

ARCHER’S GRAVE DECISION

BEN STOKES has received a timely lift as he prepares for another potentially explosive clash with West Indies.

Legend Sir Garfield Sobers has revealed he is a huge fan of the England man and insists he is the best all-rounder from these shores since Sir Ian Botham. Sobers is also sure Caribbean cricket fans will relish seeing him up close in the mouthwatering Test, ODI and T20 battles.

Marlon Samuels and Carlos Braithwaite may not echo Sobers’ opinion, having dished out some torment to Stokes in the past.

Samuels gave him an outrageous “salute” send-off after dismissing him and Braithwaite’s six-hitting feat off Stokes helped his country to a World T20 Final win in 2016. However, Sobers (right) is full of praise for Stokes, 27, who will be determined to wreak havoc and avenge some of the punishment he has endured at West Indian hands.

Joe Root’s men arrive in the tropical islands this week with the first of three Tests starting in Barbados on January 23. Stokes is keen to continue to let his cricket do the talking following a successful Sri Lanka tour after returning from his ban for the Bristol nightclub incident.

And Sobers, who knows a thing or two about batting, bowling and fielding from his 93-Test career, enjoys Stokes’ “aggressive playing style”.

Sir Gary, 82, said: “I don’t know about his lifestyle off the field but A TOUR to the West Indies once filled England batting line-ups with dread and fear.

Now Joe Root and the rest of his top order will have one thing on their mind in the Caribbean – filling their boots.

The defection of Jofra Archer to England has been held up as an example of just how difficult life is for the former world beaters.

The former West Indies Under-19s star looks set to play for England at some stage in 2019 and could yet star in this summer’s World Cup. Johnny Grave (left) the English CEO of West Indies cricket, says England’s opponents have been hit harder than any other in a modern era of freelance Twenty20 cricketers.

“We have felt the effects more than anyone else in the world,” he said. “There’s huge disappointment in Barbados. Everyone respects the fact that he has an English father and was always going to be faced with this choice.” RICHARD EDWARDS TEST: Ben Stokes has a big series ahead of him