Not only does Root now have a player as good as Stokes, but he has an allrounder who balances the team, an experienced head and the sort of in-your-face character that is so vital in Australia who also happens to be one of his best mates. And normally by the time you are eating your turkey on an Ashes tour, England are at least two down.
It has been a while since Root has had access to his great all-rounder or his best team, and he had to go to Australia without him four years ago, too. So he would have been the happiest man in the world, I reckon, followed by coach Chris Silverwood, then Jack Leach, whose chances of getting a game as a specialist spinner have sky-rocketed.
It’s like Maximus returning to the Coliseum. Stokes taking the field will lift England. I was on the 2002-03 tour of Australia, when we were missing two players who were just so perfect for the whole occasion and experience: Andrew Flintoff and Darren Gough.
This story is from the October 26, 2021 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 26, 2021 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Why are England wasting time waiting for Tuchel?
Winning the World Cup is the aim, so the new boss should start now
He's been shot, and punched by Mike Tyson, but British boxing's great survivor is back on top and aiming to rule the world
This is where the magic happens,\" reads a big neon sign scrawled across the entrance to the offices of arguably the most powerful man in British boxing today.
How Sketch went from 'obscene' to era-defining
After arocky start, the glamorous and infamous restaurant is now an institution
Money is worth less than time'
He's quit Fendi, but what will Kim Jones do next?
London's Roman Amphitheatre
Guildhall Yard, EC2V
Liberals didn't notice they'd lost relevance in the all-consuming digital sphere
There are many reasons why Donald Trump might have won the election last week.
Do we have to die?
One neuroscientist thinks the answer is no
How to have a magical Christmas in Edinburgh
From cosy cobblestone streets to abundant Yuletide goings-on, few cities rival the Scottish capital in creating Christmas whimsy.
London's best festive restaurants
The social season is upon us once more. These are the city’s most coveted Christmas venues, which need to be booked soon so as to not miss out on the tinsel and tipples.
Rag'n'Bone Man
I struggle with being recognised... I'll never really feel comfortable with it'
