Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BRISTLING BEN MAJOR THREAT TO HERO HALES
England v India 3rd T20 international Today, 2pm, Bristol, Sky Sports
THE spectre of Ben Stokes will loom large today as England set their sights on victory in the T20 series decider against India.
Stokes (below) is expected to return in Bristol after six weeks out with a hamstring injury.
He will be back in the city next month on trial to face a charge of affray after the latenight altercation last September that followed an England ODI against the West Indies.
The court appearance means the all-rounder will miss the second Test against India at Lord’s.
But after hitting an unbeaten 90 in his comeback for Durham against Yorkshire in the T20 Blast on Thursday, Stokes looks set to be given the chance to help England win their first series of the summer against Virat Kohli’s men.
Who he replaces is open to question, especially after England set up the winner-takes-all clash with an impressive five-wicket win in Cardiff on Friday night.
Alex Hales, who was with Stokes during the Bristol altercation but not charged with any offence, would have been the most likely casualty before he struck an unbeaten 58 from 41 balls to spearhead England’s chase of 149.
That was his first international T20 halfcentury in more than four years and the Nottinghamshire star admits his place is in jeopardy with Stokes poised for action now. Hales said: “I’m doing all I can to score runs and keep putting pressure on the guys who know they’re playing.
“If I’m left out, you look at the guys playing ahead of me and what can you do?
“The batting line-up is that strong, just to be part of it, anywhere in the order, is a great effort.
“It’s up to me to keep training hard, being positive and have a decent mindset. It’s funny how quickly things can change.”
Whatever the make-up of their XI today, Eoin Morgan’s troops can lay down a marker against Kohli’s men ahead of the three-match ODI series starting at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
“It’s good for us to have that momentum heading into this T20 must-win game,” said Hales.
“It’s two very strong teams, both at the top of their game, so Bristol should be a cracker.”