Ashes 2023: "It’s A Puzzle, We Don’t Know Really" - Michael Atherton Opens Up On Ben Stokes Bowling In The Upcoming Series

Cricketer-turned-commentator Michael Atherton opened up about England Test skipper Ben Stokes and his role with the ball in the upcoming edition of the Ashes series at home. Michael Atherton believes that it will be difficult for Ben Stokes to bowl lengthy spells in the marquee event.

Ben Stokes hasn’t bowled much after sustaining a knee injury during the tour of New Zealand earlier this year. The all-rounder bowled only one over in two matches in the IPL 2023. The right-arm pacer didn’t bowl a single delivery against Ireland in a one-off Test earlier this month.

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Speaking to Sky Sports, Michael Atherton said that he is unsure whether Ben Stokes will be able to bowl in the Test series against Australia.

“[On Ben Stokes’ bowling] It’s a puzzle, we don’t know really. As you say, [he] had longer bowling in the net today,” Atherton told Sky Sports.

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“We’ve seen him gradually build up. He likes 10-15 minutes before play. In the Ireland Test, [he] had a bit of bowling up in Scotland. Hasn’t bowled for a long time,” he added.

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Fingers Crossed For Ben Stokes – Michael Atherton

Michael Atherton said that Ben Stokes will have to play a big role as a fourth seamer as the senior pacers are making their comeback after recovering from injuries.

“That’s part of the reason I think they have gone for Broad because of the doubts around Stokes and Moeen coming back and the fact Robinson and Anderson haven’t played for so long. They know that Broad has been in the groove, so, fingers crossed for Ben Stokes, he is the kind of cricketer who gets himself right for the big occasion,” he added.

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“He might have to bowl through pain, lots of fast bowlers have bowled through pain before, and of course, his pain threshold is high and I should imagine him bowling at some stage, but he ain’t getting through 20 overs a day,” he concluded.

England named three fast bowlers and only one spinner in their line-up for the first Test match, which is scheduled to begin on June 16 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Stokes might be required to bowl in the match with limited bowling resources in the playing XI.

England XI for the first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, and James Anderson.

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