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England captain Ben Stokes says former skipper Nasser Hussain’s infamous decision to bowl first on the opening morning of the 2002-03 Ashes is on his mind and the reason why the tourists are likely to send Australia into the field if they win the toss on a warm first day of the third Test in Adelaide.
Hussain’s blunder at the toss in Brisbane 23 years ago is the stuff of Ashes folklore, with Australia racing to 2-364 by stumps after being invited to bat.
Australia went on to post 492, win the match by 382 runs and go on to win the series 4-1. Hussain later described day one of that match as “diabolical” - a decision he is regularly reminded of when touring Australia in his capacity as a Sky Sports pundit.
“I got the toss wrong,” Hussain said at the time. “I thought there was something in the wicket first up. As you see when it gets flat, it’s very difficult to bowl them out. I read it wrong.”
Under Stokes in the Bazball era, England have generally tended to bowl first after winning the toss, but in this series they elected to bat in the opening two Tests after calling correctly.
Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough said on Monday there would be extra moisture left in the pitch due to scorching temperatures, with 32 and 37 degrees forecast on days one and two.
Nasser Hussain of England and Steve Waugh of Australia toss the coin during day one of the first Ashes Test between Australia and England held on November 7, 2002 at the Gabba. Credit: Getty Images
Asked about the best path to victory, Stokes joked about Hussain’s decision.
“It’s going to be pretty hot day one and day two. I’m pretty sure I would become a meme or a GIF at some point in my career [if I won the toss and bowled first],” Stokes said.
“I don’t want to be another Nasser Hussain.”
In the days after England’s thumping in Brisbane, which left them 2-0 down with three matches remaining, Hussain has been critical of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.
“They are not thinking smart. They are not thinking straight under pressure,” Hussain wrote in The Athletic.
“The first sign of insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results, and England cannot afford that now.
Ben Stokes bowls during training at the Adelaide Oval.Credit: Getty Images
“Stokes and McCullum have been backing their players since 2022, but now it’s time for all of them to take individual responsibility. The captain and the coach’s necks are on the line. They have to be hard-nosed.”
England’s spearhead Jofra Archer will reignite his battle with Steve Smith after their late-match exchange during Australia’s win in Brisbane.
After Smith sledged Archer for only bowling fast when “there’s nothing going on, champion”, Stokes has vowed England will be prepared to stir up Australia’s batsmen if the situation demands it.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what this week brings,” Stokes said. “If a moment arises where we feel like we might need to get a little bit niggly like that, then I’m sure it’ll happen, and we’ll have to jump on the back of those moments as a team.
“It’s making sure that the mind doesn’t go solely on creating something like that.”
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The Australian team of 1936-37 remains the only side in Ashes history to come from 2-0 down and win a five-match series. After what Stokes described as honest conversations and several days of sunshine and bonding in Noosa, the England captain believes his side can create history with an unchanged top seven from Brisbane.
The only change to England’s XI is paceman Josh Tongue replacing Gus Atkinson, with spinner Shoaib Bashir again overlooked in favour of all-rounder Will Jacks.
“We know what it’s like to be in this situation before,” Stokes said, referencing the 2023 Ashes when England trailed 2-0 before forcing a 2-2 result.
“If anything, it actually makes everything look more simple and a little bit more clear for us. I’ve got the full [faith] we can do this.”
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