Allan Border: Stokes is the talisman of England team
26 Jul 1993: Allan Border of Australia kisses the Ashes after winning the Fourth Test against England at Headingley in Leeds, England. Australia won by an innings and 148 runs. \ Mandatory Credit: Ben Radford/Allsport
The great Australian captain Allan Border has weighed in on the conversation of the upcoming Ashes series. The first Test match starts at midnight tonight in Brisbane.
Border was speaking during the recording of a new podcast – Inside the Tour – The Ashes 1986/87 – reflecting on England’s 2-1 victory 35 years ago…
Border has spoken his length about his admiration for his great friend and fierce on field rival Lord Ian Botham. There is one man in the England team that has had a lasting impact on A.B – Ben Stokes.
“I think the inclusion of Stokes has made a hell of a difference. I think he’s the talisman of that England team.”
Border continued: “He doesn’t have to be performing to add percentage points, just from the other guys in a dressing room who sense it. I think it’s a bit like Botham in an England changing room – he’s there and it doesn’t matter whether he’s always taking five-fors or scoring swashbuckling hundreds, but the other guys lift accordingly. So, I think huge for England.”
Looking ahead to the series, Border said on England: “I always rate England teams when you look at the personnel they’ve got. The only area I think is fragile is the batting.”
“But, in saying that, our battings a bit fragile as well. We’ve got some good players, no doubt, but they don’t always hunt as a pack and go off on individual performances, and that’s not always the way to win.
“I think it’s going to be one of those series where you could see the ball dominate a bit more than we’ve seen in the past. The batters will have moments, for sure, but I think it’s pretty even. There’s not much in it, even though we’re playing at home.”
Border’s insight into the series would only be described as a rare opinion – with Australia heavy favourites to retain the urn amogst the bookmakers.
Ahead of the first Test match, Border is set to be immortalised with a statue at The Gabba. The Sydney-born-batsman made his way in the game at his home state of New South Wales before moving north to Queensland in 1980, where he spent 16 happy years.
“It was Botham, of course, on a podcast who made mention that there should be a statue at the Gabba of A.B,” he said.
“Basically, I got taken lunch and told: “We’ve got this project is going to happen. And before you answer yes or no, it’s happening. So, are you going to get on board?” At that point you just think ‘I’m in.’ So that’s happening the day before the test in Brisbane. It’ll be embarrassing, but at the same time hugely exciting.
“The pose is the classic cover drive. It’s amazing, all these photos have been taken over the years and that group – the conspirators – they go away and get the photo and then I get given this list of photos that I’m supposed to pick from and it’s the same one. So yeah, it’s a cover drive. I gather from the shot on playing, it’s not against the West Indies because I’ve got a baggy green cap on and I’m whacking it through the covers and I don’t think that ever happened against them! It’s probably one of Botham’s Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs.”
Inside the Tour – The Ashes 1986/87 is available on all major podcast platforms. To subscribe to the series, visit auddy.co/ITT and follow @InsideTourPod on Twitter.