Former Australian captain Steve Waugh believes England can’t win Ashes without their flamboyant all-rounder Ben Stokes and he would have been dumped if he was an Australian.

Stokes was arrested last month following a brawl outside a nightclub in Bristol after his team won the third One-Day International against West Indies. He was sacked from the squad with immediate effects. Though ECB named him in the Ashes team, after a week he withdrew from there as well. Stokes can’t play for England till any further notice.

“If he doesn’t come, I don’t think they can win the Ashes,” Waugh said during his interview with a radio. “I think if it was anyone in the Australian side, they wouldn’t be picked. You can’t do that these days in public. It just didn’t look good and it’s a bad image for the game. I think they (England selectors) are pretty keen for him to play in Australia… he’s probably their best player, so it would be a real shame if he’s not out here.”

Veteran batsman believes Stokes’ absence will increase the workload on the shoulders of Stuart Broad and James Anderson. Thus, he sees Australia winning Ashes on home soil by 3-1.

He concluded while saying “Without Ben Stokes, we’ll win. It’s too much pressure on Broad and Anderson, and they’re getting a bit older, and I can’t see them playing five Test matches straight. I think Australia will win 3-1.”

First Test will go underway from November 23 in Brisbane. England will try to retain the urn while Australia is eyeing to regain the urn.