England will miss Ben Stokes one world's best cricketers, admits Australia's Nathan Lyon
Monday 20 November 2017 14:00, UK
Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon says that England will miss Ben Stokes, one of "the best all-rounders" in the world at the moment, in the first Test, but he doesn't "really care" whether the Durham player makes it out to Australia for the rest of the Ashes.
Stokes is still at home waiting to hear if he will be charged after a late-night incident in Bristol eight weeks ago.
Reports are again suggesting Avon & Somerset Police may make a decision this week, which could put the ball back in the England and Wales Cricket Board's court with regards to the key all-rounder's availability for the rest of the Ashes series.
Stokes is training at Durham while his international exile continues.
England arrived in Brisbane for the first Test of the series on Sunday morning with the match at the iconic Gabba ground beginning on Thursday.
Lyon, 30, the home side's most successful off-spinner with 269 Test wickets, admitted the Aussies rated Stokes as one of the world's best with bat and ball.
"You want to play against the best in the world and he's up there with the best all-rounders right now," he said.
"It's disappointing he's not here for the first Test, but there are rumours coming out he'll play some part in the series.
"That is totally up to England and I don't really care what they do about that to be honest.
"He's world class, and if he comes to play, we'll have plans for him and go out and play some hard cricket."
Australia Test colleague, fast bowler Pat Cummins, claimed England would also miss Stokes' prowess in the field in the first of the five-Test encounter.
"Stokes makes up about three players, his catching in the field, and with his batting and bowling," he said.
"However way you pick a side without him, it always looks a batter or bowler shorter than with him there."
