England cricket team is having a distinct lead of 2-0 in the ongoing 5-match Test series against the Indian team, who are looking hapless. The inclusion of Ben Stokes for the Third Test in Nottingham will only strengthen his team’s confidence in being able to take an unassailable lead in the series with two games to spare. Meanwhile, Stokes was excluded from the second Test at Lord’s because of the trial surrounding last year’s affray outside a nightclub in Bristol.
The flamboyant all-rounder finally got a sigh of relief to beathe after being declared not guilty at the Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday, but Nasser Hussain still wants him to “have hard look at himself”. Stokes has been included in the squad for the third Test against India starting from August 18 (Saturday).
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Hussain said, “As far as selection goes, Ben is one of the best XI cricketers in the country and has been found innocent in a court of law, although, obviously, [coach] Trevor Bayliss and [captain] Joe Root have to look at Ben mentally. I am amazed how well he has coped mentally over the last few months with this hanging over him and as long as they feel he is mentally fit for selection then they should pick him.”
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Being an equipped cricket expert and a veteran cricketer himself, Hussain spotted the difference between the on and off-field Ben Stokes. He also termed Ben as a simple guy who requires to stay away from controversies which have become part and parcel of his life unnecessarily marring his already illustrious career.
Hussain elaborated, “The Ben I know and who I see around the cricket team is a popular, unassuming, down-to-earth, very pleasant individual that will stay after a game and do autographs with kids for an hour and give his time. But I only see Stokes at cricket, so Ben has to make a decision – the image we see of him at cricket is probably not the image that has been portrayed over the last six months in the newspapers.”
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The former English skipper concluded by stating that Stokes lover playing cricket for England and that’s also the only thing he wants to do. He also revealed that Joe Root knows the all-rounder well and if the latter makes himself available to play than the skipper will make him play.
