‘X-factor’: Stokes considering unleashing Wood-Archer Ashes barrage in Perth

3 months ago 20

England captain Ben Stokes has hinted the tourists may unleash both Jofra Archer and Mark Wood in the first Ashes Test in Perth to try to land a stunning first round blow on Australia’s ageing batting order.

Speaking for the first time since his team’s arrival in Australia, Stokes deflected criticism of his team’s preparation from the likes of Sir Ian Botham, and counselled his players not to be “afraid” of the scrutiny that comes with touring Australia.

Due largely to injuries, Archer and Wood have never played a Test match together against Australia, but they have each had Ashes moments that stick in the memory. Archer was fiendishly difficult for Australia to deal with in 2019, while Wood was the outstanding England fast bowler of the past two Ashes series.

While lavish in his praise of the pace battery he had brought to Australia, Stokes could say only “good, yep” when asked about how his body might stand up to the rigours of all-round duties during the Ashes, after suffering a shoulder injury towards the end of a drawn series against India.

“It would be exciting wouldn’t it,” Stokes said when asked about playing both Archer and Wood in Perth. “There’s nine days until that first Test match starts, so that’s a long time for stuff to fall into place or something to happen.

“It’s great to have the X-factor that Jof and Woody possess in terms of pace. Woody’s got over his knee surgery he had quite a while ago, he’s overcome that, and he’s looking really, really good. Jofra’s been out on the park for two-and-a-half years now, so it’s great seeing those two flying in and sending some fast balls down there, at our guys as well.

“You can have pace but if you spray it everywhere that’s not too much use. We feel we’ve picked a really strong bowling group that have complementary skills and support each other. It’s going to be a tough five games.”

Wood has spoken about how England have “copied” Australia’s strength under Pat Cummins, which is having a strong arsenal of bowlers who are not only quick but relentlessly accurate.

Stokes’ deputy Harry Brook has admitted that conditions at England’s Lilac Hill training base are slow and low compared to what they will get at Perth Stadium, but Stokes defended his team’s lead-in to the series.

“I don’t really know what we’re supposed to do to be honest,” Stokes said. “With the preparation, we’ve been preparing like this for a long time, there’s state cricket going on at the moment, I know a couple of the Australian boys are playing.

“Time has got to be taken into consideration, we’ve had some of our squad members out here recently playing a series in New Zealand and the schedule’s pretty jam-packed to be able to prepare how teams would’ve done 10, 15, 20-30 years ago as well.

“So there’s a lot of factors that have changed over the years, so in terms of preparation we’ve been preparing for this for a very long time. We put a lot of time and effort into how we prepare for every series and that hasn’t changed with this one.”

Stokes has had an undulating history when it comes to visiting Australia. He was sent home early from an England Lions tour in 2012-13 for misbehaviour, before returning in 2013-14 to make his Test debut and craft a century in Perth.

He missed the 2017-18 trip after facing a charge of affray related to an incident outside a Bristol nightclub, and was on his way back from a mental health break from the game when he was swept away along with the rest of the England side in the COVID-affected 2021-22 series. That 4-0 drubbing led to Stokes’ appointment as captain, and he has instilled a sense of the fearless in his side since.

Jofra Archer bowls during day four of the second Test at Lord’s in 2019.

“There’s four or five of us who’ve experienced an Ashes tour in Australia and it’s up to us to explain to them and let them know what to expect,” Stokes said of teammates who had not played an Ashes series in Australia before.

“From my personal experience, coming to Australia in an Ashes, it’s a lot different to anything else you’ll play in.

“There’s a lot more that goes on away from the cricket itself, and it’s just making everyone aware that’s the case, but making sure it’s nothing to be afraid of, nothing to be scared of, and don’t shy away from what’s in front of us.

“When you’re younger growing up watching these kinds of series, you sit there watching, hoping and dreaming of being a member of a team who gets the opportunity to represent England out in Australia, and now we are here it’s definitely nothing to be afraid of.”

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