Hayter: Would you fancy standing in Stokes’ way?
The subject of resting Ben Stokes for the second Test against Bangladesh raised much mirth this week. As if it needed saying, prior to any discussion of giving the Durham all-rounder the week off, Alastair Cook had underlined just how essential he now is to his side, as his match-winning display with bat and ball in the opener in Chittagong underlined.
“I say it every time we speak about Ben,” said the England captain. “The guy is that X-factor cricketer which every side would love to have.”
Stokes himself gave the notion of not playing the shortest shrift. “No. I’ll play all seven Tests this winter. I’d rather get dropped.”
And coach Trevor Bayliss delivered the punchline everyone else had been mouthing when he said: “I’m not sure we’re game enough to drop him out anyway – I might get a thump in the head.” Ho. Ho. Ho. The fact is, however, that Stokes is far too important an asset to England’s present and future prospects for the idea of protecting and preserving him to be kicked into touch so flippantly.
Of course Stokes wants to play in every game he possibly can and his desire to do so should be applauded.
He would not be half the player if his character did not demand being at the centre of everything England do at every opportunity.
If he could bat and bowl at both ends he would and he would do all the fielding as well and, when he plays like he did in Chittagong, who wouldn’t want 11 of him on the field at all times?
Cricketers, and all sportsmen and women for that matter, live their careers knowing they are one bad knock away from the end and what happened to James Taylor this year – he was diagnosed with an incurable heart condition – is a reminder that nothing should be taken for granted.
Accidents do happen and being too sensitive about the occupational hazards of the job is as bad as ignoring them but that does not mean that due care and attention should not be given to managing them and, in the case of Stokes, recent evidence reminds us that while, in heart, lung and spirit, his reserves appear endless, even his bulldozerstrong body has its limits.
Lest we forget, three times in the past year the Durham man has succumbed to an injury that has necessitated a significant break.
A year ago next week he damaged his shoulder in the third Test against Pakistan in Sharjah and was forced to miss the four-match one-day international series plus three T20s that followed.
In May, during the first Test of the summer against Sri Lanka, he did his knee, which ruled him out of action for a month. Even though he returned for his county in mid-summer, the selectors decided to hold him back for the first Test against Pakistan. The disappointment of defeat caused Cook to suggest the absence of Stokes and James Anderson, for similar reasons, erred on the side of caution.
But on the fourth day of the second Test at Old Trafford he again pulled up, this time in his follow-through, with a calf injury that brought his involvement in the series to a premature end.
In short, while England played seven Tests last summer, Stokes managed just two. Clearly, after a stuttering start to his international career, he is desperate to make up for lost time, even more so because, after a frustrating summer, he appears fully fit again.
But with another heavy workload between now and next year’s Ashes tour – including five Tests more or less on the bounce in sapping conditions all over India before Christmas – England’s management would be doing him and themselves a disservice if they kept picking their key player willy-nilly just because one of them might get a thump in the head if they leave him out.
Lest we forget, three times in the past year the Durham man has succumbed to an injury that has necessitated a significant break