Ashes 2015: 'Ben Stokes' bowling gives England added dimension'
Moody impressed by all-rounder's willingness to get 'dirty'
Saturday 18 November 2017 11:47, UK
Ben Stokes will give England an added dimension if he continues to perform with the ball, Mark Butcher told The Verdict.
All-rounder Stokes has scored two fifties in the 2015 Investec Ashes but his bowling came to the fore in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, the Durham man seizing 5-35 to put England on the cusp of regaining the urn.
David Warner (64), Chris Rogers (52) and Peter Nevill (17) were among the 24-year-old’s victims as he recorded his second Test-match five-for, the other coming against Australia in Sydney in January 2014.
"England’s most successful teams over the years have always had a dominant all-rounder, someone who can bat at six and take the new ball if required."
"England’s most successful teams over the years have always had a dominant all-rounder, someone who can bat at six and take the new ball if required," said Butcher.
"Stokes is a wonderful batsman who will score many runs and do it quickly but the question was whether he can cut it as a wicket-taker at Test level.
"Every time he puts in a performance like that it's a step in the right direction."
Stokes has had a mini-blip with the bat since his first-innings 87 in the second Test at Lord’s, amassing two ducks before being caught down the leg side for five in Nottingham.
Former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody – who joined Butcher and Bob Willis on The Verdict – says the New Zealand-born star’s aggressive style of play will always lead to him having fallow periods.
But the ex-Worcestershire and Western Australia man says England must persevere with a player who is ready to "get dirty" to secure victories.
"Stokes can bat and bowl but what he brings to the team in spades is attitude," said Moody. "He brings a real sense of fight and grit and is prepared to get dirty to win a game.
"He will have ups and downs, times where he has outs with the bat and will be hit for boundaries, but you have to hold on to him.
"The next 10 years of him and Joe Root playing in the England team are going to be exciting."
Willis added: "Stokes' fielding and catching is excellent, he is maturing by the minute and he is now almost the complete cricketer."
Coverage of the fourth Ashes Test from Trent Bridge continues live on Sky Sports Ashes HD. You can also watch the fourth Test with a NOW TV Sports Day Pass. Plus, our Ashes Events Centre - the best of Sky Cricket's analysis at your fingertips - is available on our iPad app.
