New Zealand v England: Ben Stokes as a specialist hitter will take away from him as a cricketer, says Ian Ward | Cricket Information

Ben Stokes’ newest harm drawback has raised questions on whether or not he ought to undertake a specialist batting function, however Sky Sports activities’ Ian Ward believes it could take away his function as a cricketer.

The 33-year-old England captain injured his left hamstring whereas bowling on the third day of the ultimate Take a look at towards New Zealand and left the sphere of play.

Stokes will now bear “additional evaluation” as as to if he’ll return to bat in England’s second innings in Hamilton, with the vacationers 18-2 at stumps needing a mammoth 640 to win.

“There are two issues with this [Stokes being a specialist batter]. The primary is that England want him to stability the group and the second, extra vital difficulty is that Stokes will wish to play his half as an all-rounder,” Ward stated. Sky Sports activities Information.

“That’s what makes these all-around gamers so nice: they wish to be concerned in each side of the sport.

“Stokes is at the moment batting, bowling, influential within the area and as captain. If you happen to have a look at Ian Botham, he would have come into the group as a batter or a bowler, but when he may solely do this one, he would have eliminated it from his common aura and I feel it is the identical with Stokes.

“There is not any doubt about Stokes as a hitter or his capacity to play at quantity three, but it surely takes a lot away from ‘Ben Stokes the Cricketer’, so I do not assume it would come to him the thoughts.

“Once more, we don’t know the extent of the harm, however I do know he’ll put his coronary heart and soul into getting match as he’ll wish to play that function as a real all-rounder.”

Stokes was sidelined for a number of weeks with a severe left hamstring tear earlier this 12 months, lacking 4 Exams after choosing up the harm throughout the Hundred.

He bowled 66.3 overs within the away sequence towards the Black Caps – his highest in a single sequence as captain.

“It is a large concern. It appears to be like like England are going to lose this Take a look at match badly, we do not know the extent of the harm,” Ward added.

“When Stokes did it in The Hundred in August, he needed to be helped off the sphere. On that event he managed to have the ability to stroll away with out help.

“You could possibly see Brendon McCullum [England’s head coach] within the background, wanting a bit of anxious, which ended what was a horrible day for England.

“It was a fantastic day for New Zealand. I feel we noticed a bit extra of what they’re able to. They had been very disappointing in that first match in Christchurch, shedding all these catches, which gave England some momentum.

“England crushed them within the second recreation, but it surely appears to be like like they’ll get a style of their very own medication on this remaining recreation in Hamilton.

“Stokes will put within the onerous work to get match, he’s a really resilient man and he’ll wish to proceed as a real all-rounder and he has time as the subsequent Take a look at match is barely in 5 months . [against Zimbabwe in 2025]”.

Crawley’s disturbing tour continues

England opener Zak Crawley (5) was dismissed for the sixth time by Matt Henry (1-14) on this sequence on the finish of the third day.

In the course of the second over of England’s remaining innings, Crawley noticed a assessment fall in his favor, additionally towards Henry, however he was dismissed within the fifth over throughout the assessment and furiously stormed off the sphere.

“The one benefit for Crawley is that it’s not a five-match Take a look at sequence,” Ward stated.

“All the pieces Crawley tried to do to counter Henry simply did not work. As soon as a bowler will get your quantity in a Take a look at, reversing it’s nearly one of many hardest issues to do in sport.

“He could have help from his teammates and administration within the locker room, however he’ll know deep down that he’s not contributing to the group and that it may be a really, very lonely place.

“He might be determined to get on the airplane, go residence and get away from Henry. It is a very troublesome tour and mentally extremely troublesome to cope with.”

England take a look at tour of New Zealand

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