Arthur Crabtree wrote:I don't think Stokes could be picked as a bowler, but he's got a lot going for him. He's a hell of a bowler for a batter. It's tough to keep him on at 5rpo. Cook (maybe) should just give him wicket taking fields and live with the runs. He's had a lot of edges fly through the slips as Steely has tried to deal with the cost of the wickets.
If we needed a batter who can bowl, is Ali not the better of the two though? Long term, I just dont see the use of Stokes. He isnt a batter, not a top 6, and if he cant bowl in tests we in essence are picking probably the 40th best batter we could.
Lets not forget, this surface at Lords combined with an outfield that is very quick has produced a test where no batter should have concerns. His only other score of note was a classic "series over/Mark Butcher's now Bradman" Ashes effort that we have seen many a time.
Can anyone tell me he is a test match 6? Or looks good enough with the ball to be a reliable striker?
Maybe I am harsh, but he just doesnt convince me.