Ben Stokes is under pressure after two poor batting innings in Australia as England look to bounce back from their first Test defeat with victory in Adelaide.
Stokes was heralded as the visitor’s leading man going into this series after playing such a pivotal role in helping his country draw the 2019 series 2-2.
But after recording just five and 14 runs in his first outing down under, some are already starting to question the 30-year-old.
Now as far out as 16/1 with some IPL betting sites to be the top overall batsman in the series, Stokes has his work cut out.
And it could be a tricky period for the New Zealand-born all-rounder, according to the legendary Geoffrey Boycott.
The former England opener said: “Ben Stokes needed to play more cricket.
“All the hype that he’s back and what he brings to the dressing room is b*******.
“He is not a messiah. He can’t bat and bowl for everyone. My experience tells me when you are out in the middle, batting or bowling, each player has to do his own thing.
“You are on your own with decisions to make about where to bowl or what shot to play.
“Ben hasn’t played for five months, had a finger operation and rain ruined his practice.
“Then his first knock was on a testing pitch against, in my view, the two best seam bowlers in the world – Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
“That would be tough for any batsman in good form. Too many players expected some magic from our talismanic all-rounder.
“His second-innings dismissal showed his lack of cricket as he got in a tangle with a bit of bounce. In good nick there is every chance he would have played it differently.”
Australia fast bowler Hazelwood has been ruled out of the second Ashes Test, which begins at 4am on Thursday.
“Hazlewood returned to Sydney for further assessment and rehabilitation,” Cricket Australia said.
“A decision on his fitness for the Boxing Day Test will be made in due course.”
And England captain Joe Root believes those predicting the demise of Stokes could well be mistaken.
“I’m pretty sure he’ll be fit for Adelaide and one thing, you write Ben Stokes off at your own peril,” Root said.
“He’d be desperate to get back into this series and have a big say in how it all turns out.
“It’s the same with success and failure. There’s always the momentum thing, but you just have to put whatever happened in the past behind you.”
Stokes will be forever remembered for turning the third Test of the Ashes series two years ago in England’s favour.
The hosts looked to be heading for defeat after they were bowled out for 67 in their first innings, before Stokes came in and hit an unbeaten 135* in pursuit of the 359 total.
Back then the cricket world was gushing over the left-hander’s abilities, with Boycott saying: “I’ve seen some remarkable cricket moments in my life but that is the best I’ve seen in over 50 years.
“Ben Stokes saved the Ashes and gave a magical inspirational innings. Even better than his World Cup performance.”
The player himself could barely believe what he had done, simply saying “unbelievable, unbelievable” as he was mobbed by team-mates coming off the pitch.
Stokes’ turn in Leeds was rated by Wisden as the ‘Greatest hundred of the decade’ for the 2010s.
He was named England’s player of the series after ending as their top run-scorer with 441 runs, whilst also taking eight wickets.
