Exeter scrap to top spot
as a cricketer and how he plays the game he is an excellent example for young players.
“I like Stokes, to me he is a good cricketer. I like his approach to things, his bowling and batting are very strong.
“He is also a fine catcher in any position on the field. So you see he has all the ingredients you need to be a world-class all-rounder.
“The West Indian fans love a cricketer with a bit of fire in his belly. Someone with attitude, who wants to be confrontational and play aggressive cricket. So I expect them to enjoy Stokes coming over to play once more with England. “Freddie Flintoff was a fine all-rounder but, for me, Stokes is something else. “He is the best England all-rounder since Ian Botham. I remember Ted Dexter who was also a fine player.
“He didn’t bowl as much but he was up there too. England have always had a good Test all-rounder. “I’ve seen Stokes walk out to bat when everyone else was struggling and he made it look very easy. That is the sign of a great player.
“He doesn’t just go out there and be aggressive and try and bash it around. He plays the right shots at the right time and the older he gets the better batsman he’ll become.”
Sir Gary wishes the cricket does the talking and fills the headlines rather than any more unsavoury incidents on or off the field.
He added: “Sometimes things can happen in the heat of the moment. Players are passionate and can get carried away but I’m really looking forward to what will be a very hard and competitive series.
“It would be good if we see one of the best series for a long time because the rivalry between England and the West Indies has been special for a long time, all the way back to Learie Constantine, Denis Compton and the others.
“I liked playing against England, especially on my home ground. The atmosphere is a little different there these days with England fans coming over in their thousands to make it almost their home
Test. But that’s fine. We love the
Barmy
Army coming because they love their cricket and they help the economy!”
England will start as firm favourites after whitewashing Sri Lanka before Christmas – proving they can win abroad.
They have also lost just four of their 24 Tests against the Windies since the start of the millennium.
“It will be a close series,” said Sobers.
“West Indies are still inconsistent and trying to get back to where we need to be.
“I expect
England to edge it.” EXETER returned to the Premiership summit after a scrappy 14-9 win at home to West Country rivals Bristol.
Three Ian Madigan penalties had given the visitors the lead twice but as they were looking second best, the Chiefs’ Sean Lonsdale sealed the win with 15 minutes to play. Bath indiscipline helped Worcester to a
21-19 win over 11 men at the final whistle.
Bath were comfortable at the break, leading 19-3, but Ross Batty’s red card on the hour mark came before three yellow cards in the final 10 minutes, with Bryce Heem’s (above) last-minute converted try giving the Warriors breathing space over bottom side Newcastle.
Gloucester slip to fourth after a thumping 3416 defeat at Leicester, haunted by two tries from former winger Jonny May.
Harlequins thumped Newcastle 38-17 at Richmond Park to go third.
The damage was done in the first half as the visitors led 28-3 at the break before adding their fifth try five minutes into the second half.