Ashes 2021-22: Ben Stokes Is Not A Messiah: Geoffrey Boycott Criticises The Hype Created Over England All-Rounder's Return

Former England player Geoffrey Boycott criticised the hype that was created on the return of star all-rounder Ben Stokes to international cricket.

England lost the first Ashes Test to Australia by nine wickets at the Gabba in Brisbane as the game was wrapped within four days.

Ben Stokes started Ashes 2021-22 on a poor note

Stokes played competitive cricket nearly after four months due to his break from the game to prioritise his mental health. Stokes scored 5 & 14 in his comeback game and also didn’t find any success with the ball.

Stokes was vulnerable to injury on the second day while he chased a ball during the 29th over of Australia’s innings. The all-rounder also bowled a series of no-balls, many of which went unnoticed by the match officials.

When the news of Stokes’ inclusion in England’s Ashes squad broke out, everyone thought it would bolster the visitors’ chances to win their first Ashes series in Down Under in 11 years.

Ben Stokes can’t bat and bowl for everyone: Geoffrey Boycott

Boycott said that Stokes is not a messiah for the team and each player must contribute to bringing success to the team.

“Ben Stokes needed to play more cricket. All the hype that he’s back and what he brings to the dressing room is b——-. He is not a messiah. He can’t bat and bowl for everyone. Ben hasn’t played for five months, had a finger operation and rain ruined his practice. Then his first knock was on a testing pitch against, in my view, the two best seam bowlers in the world – Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood,” Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph.

“That would be tough for any batsman in good form. Too many players expected some magic from our talismanic all-rounder. His second innings dismissal showed his lack of cricket as he got in a tangle with a bit of bounce. In good nick, there is every chance he would have played it differently.” he added.

Australia were dominant on the first two days. First, they bundled up England for 147 with Cummins, leading the team in his first game, registered figures of 5/38.

On Day 2, riding on a breathtaking 100th century by Travis Head (152) with some great batting by David Warner (94) and Marnus Labushagne (74), Australia achieved a huge lead of 278.

In the second innings, England were bowled out for 297 with a minuscule lead of 19 runs, the hosts took just 5.1 overs to chase the score. Boycott said that England were playing catch-up cricket after their first innings low score.

“Once Australia had bowled England out for a paltry total unless England could bowl them out for a similar score, then they were playing catch-up cricket which hardly ever brings success,” Boycott wrote.

The second Ashes Test between Australia and England will start on December 16 at the Adelaide Oval.

Also Read: Ashes 2021-22: Biggest Concern For Joe Root Is Not The Seam Department – Jason Gillespie