Ben Stokes has ordered “flat, fast” pitches for the Ashes series this summer and, as England continue to monitor the fitness of Jofra Archer after another absence, the Test captain claims to already have a starting XI in mind.
On Sky Sports during their Indian Premier League coverage Stokes said his side would continue their aggressive, results-driven approach against Australia and outlined his hope of having 90mph pace in his attack.
Along with Mark Wood and Olly Stone, and after an eye-catching Ashes in 2019, Archer will be key. But concerns are growing. The 28-year-old has had some discomfort in the right elbow that led him to miss 18 months of cricket with a stress fracture and on Tuesday he sat out a second IPL match in a row for Mumbai Indians.
There has been no official word on the severity of the problem with England privately hopeful it is a minor setback and they are in communication with the franchise. Stokes, who hinted before this latest absence that Archer could return from the IPL early to get fit for multi-day cricket, has the fast bowler in his plans.
“I think I know what the starting XI is going to be, there or thereabouts,” he said. “Having the option to bowl above 90mph, any captain wants that. [But] when it comes to that first Test I will be making sure I pick the best team for that first game.
“We’ve been clear with the ground staff what type of wickets we want and they have been responsive. We want flat, fast wickets. We want to score quickly. If that brings [Australia’s] guys in, they will be happy. I’m smiling, because I’m looking forward to it.”
There are nine weeks and a four-day Test against Ireland to go before the Ashes starts at Edgbaston on 16 June and another player eyeing a return is Jonny Bairstow. Sidestepping a question about Bairstow’s possible route back into the XI, Stokes simply stressed the importance of getting fit after breaking his leg at the beginning of September.
On his own fitness, Stokes claimed to be bowling “pain-free” after five weeks of work behind the scenes. The all-rounder did miss Chennai’s last outing against Mumbai with a foot problem but the longstanding left knee injury – one that hampered his role with the ball during the 1-1 draw in New Zealand – appears to be easing.
“Medically and in the gym, plus cortisone injections – everything is going nicely,” said Stokes. “But I’m not going to rush myself, the main priority is making sure I can fulfil my role as a fourth seamer in the Ashes.”
The series has already seen the first shots fired publicly, with Ollie Robinson recently quoted as saying he predicts a “comfortable win” and wanted to give Australia a “good hiding”. Stokes, while praising his opponents, welcomed this confidence. “[It is] about letting people be free, to operate as their character,” he said. “I saw [those quotes] and that’s Robbo down to a tee – that’s his character.
“It’s not arrogance, he just firmly believes in himself and the team’s capability at the moment. I’d rather he’d say that than ‘I dunno, we might get beat’.”
As well as playing down the significance of Steve Smith playing for Sussex during the buildup, Stokes identified Travis Head as a threat. The left-hander was player of the series for the last Ashes series in Australia, his 357 runs at a strike rate of 86 not dissimilar to England’s overall approach recently.
“[Head] being allowed to play that way is why he’s been successful,” said Stokes. “He was so hard to bowl to in the last Ashes, he threw counterpunches and was hard to set fields to. We are prepared for that and also to go for runs, something that’s been easier as we’ve played more.
“Jimmy [Anderson] and [Stuart] Broad had been so protective over their economy rates, but now they have seen a different side to it. Having those two with a ‘fine to go for runs mentality’ is something that will do us fine if Australia come back at us, like Travis Head likes to do.”
Asked if England’s recent desire to always seek a positive result would apply were they to find themselves 2-1 up on the final day and mulling a declaration, Stokes said: “Declare. I’m not going to change anything just because we’re in the Ashes. Every game will be to produce a result. [If not then] I’m not being true to myself and everything I’ve done this past year.”
