Ashes: Ben Stokes' lack of preparation huge concern for England, says Michael Hussey

Former Australian cricketer Michael Hussey believes that England all-rounder Ben Stokes’ lack of preparation with regard to match experience before the Ashes, is a massive area of concern. Stokes has failed to make much of an impact in the opening Gabba Test, having been dismissed for just five runs in the first innings. He was largely ineffective with the ball as well, having hobbled off the field with what seemed like a knee injury on Day 2.

“It will be a huge concern for England. He is a world class all-rounder and such a key man in the team. He offers so much balance, virtually three players in one. Loked like he was struggling with a knee injury that seemed to be getting even more sore as the match wore on,” Hussey said on Cricbuzz.

“We knew that it was going to be a challenge for him coming into the series because he was coming in with very limited preparation. He hasn’t played for five or six months and it isn’t easy to come straight into an Ashes series and have an impact. Lack of preparation has certainly showed. Even in his bowling, those big no balls against David Warner also showed a lack of rhythm coming in. When you have been playing lots of cricket and you are in your groove, that sort of thing doesn’t happen, so it is a big concern for England moving forward,” he added.

“Would’ve been nice for his first ball to be called a no-ball”

England bowling coach Jon Lewis discussed Stokes’ injury on the field, further sharing his opinion on the no-balls.

“Obviously Ben has hurt himself on the field today so didn’t bowl full pace at the back end of the day. Think our medical guys will assess him overnight and see how he is. Other than that the guys are okay. What a fast bowler needs is some sort of understanding of where his feet are. It would’ve been nice for his first ball to be called a no-ball, so he could then have made an adjustment, and from then he would’ve been behind the line because he then knows where his feet are.”

Ricky Ponting slams ‘pathetic officiating’

Stokes was quite erratic with the ball on Day 2 of the ongoing Test. Australian opener David Warner was bowled by Stokes off a no-ball, with the latter playing his first competitive match since The Hundred in July. Interestingly, while the wicket was cancelled after a no-ball review showed that the all-rounder had overstepped his mark, Stokes had bowled a no-ball in every delivery leading up to the dismissal. Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting criticised the ‘pathetic officiating’.

“If someone upstairs is supposed to be checking these and they haven’t decided that any of those are a no-ball, that’s just pathetic officiating as far as I’m concerned. It led to what we saw late in the over. If he’d have been called for a no-ball the first one he bowled, then of course he’s going to drag his foot back. I’m not sure what’s happened. I’m keen to hear why it hasn’t happened earlier,” said Ponting while speaking on Channel 7.