BAT OUT OF HELL

Ben backs hitmen to bounce back after nightmare

- RICHARD EDWARDS

BEN STOKES is backing England's batters to bounce back in New Zealand after their tour of Pakistan ended in humiliating fashion in Rawalpindi.

The hosts made short work of England yesterday, bowling them out for the lowest score of the Bazball era.

They then knocked off the winning runs in just 19 balls to end England's dreams of back-to-back series wins in Pakistan for the first time.

England scored 823 in their only innings in the first Test in Multan nine more runs than they managed in the four innings that followed.

But Stokes still believes England's top six are the best players in the country.

And despite Ollie Pope scoring just 55 runs in five innings, he insists there won't be wholesale changes as England prepare to name their squad for the series against the Kiwis.