On his knees

LOSING STOKES REAL POSSIBILITY

- JEREMY CROSS

IT'S hard to imagine watching Test cricket without Ben Stokes being involved in it.

But this is something we will have to start to consider, even if we don't want to.

Marvelling at Stokes leading England in the current Ashes has felt like a genuine privilege these past few weeks.

But behind this good fortune has been the lingering feeling that the Superman of cricket is having avoid his to kryptonite.

His sublime innings at Lord's last weekend will live long in the memories of those who saw it.

His one-man demolition of the best bowling attack in the game should be something sports lovers witness once in a generation.

Because only the gifted few are capable of such genius.

Yet Stokes is so talented, his astonishing innings at the ‘Home of Cricket’ was almost a repeat of what he did at Headingley back in 2019.