David Lloyd suggests that if Ben Stokes is unable to bowl seam-up deliveries in the Ashes series, he should try off-spin instead. Australia, led by Pat Cummins, currently holds a 1-0 lead in the five-game series after a narrow victory over England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. So, on the first day of the second Test, Australia scored 339 runs and lost five wickets. During the game, England’s bowlers struggled to take wickets, with neither spin nor pace proving effective. Steve Smith and Travis Head had a century partnership.
Reflecting on Day 1, Lloyd expressed his thoughts in his column for Daily Mail:
“Late in the day, I had a quiet moment and wondered if I was old fashioned and whether the game was passing me by because England were crying out for a spinner. They had no sense of deception or guile with four right arm quicks. It was all very predictable and one-dimensional.”
It’s clear that Ben Stokes isn’t fully fit to bowl and I wonder if he can reinvent himself as an off-spinner: David Lloyd
According to Lloyd, Stokes is not in optimal bowling condition, and he believes the English captain can transform himself into an off-spinner. The former cricketer, aged 76, furthermore cited the example of Ian Botham, a well-known English all-rounder who achieved success as an off-spinner, and expressed confidence in Stokes’ ability to do the same.
“It’s clear that Ben Stokes isn’t fully fit to bowl. And I wonder if he can reinvent himself as an off-spinner. Eddie Hemmings did it. Mike Watkinson did it. Ashley Giles did it. And Ian Botham took wickets bowling off spin. Stokes has a basic action and it wouldn’t put any strain on his front knee. I wouldn’t put it past him to be able to convert. I know it’s a left-field call but it’s been done before. Anyways Joe Root came along, so I rest my case for now…,”
he further added.
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