Former England cricketer David Lloyd suggested that England captain Ben Stokes experiment with off-spin if he is unable to bowl seam-up deliveries in the current Ashes series. With a two-wicket victory over the hosts at Edgbaston in Birmingham, Pat Cummins’s Australia claimed a 1-0 series lead.
On the first day of the second Test, Australia scored 339 runs and lost five wickets. At one stage in the game, the bowlers had difficulty taking wickets. Steve Smith and Travis Head set up a century partnership despite neither spin nor pace working for England.
David Lloyd reflected on Day 1 of the ongoing second Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground in his column for the Daily Mail.
“As the day drew to a close, I had a moment of solitude during which I pondered whether I was out of touch with the game and whether I was being left behind because England were desperate for a spinner. With four right arm quicks, they had no sense of deceit or cunning. Everything was quite predictable and one-dimensional.
Ben Stokes is obviously not fully fit to bowl, and I question if he could reinvent himself as an off-spinner. Lloyd Lloyd continued by stating that Stokes is manifestly unfit to bowl and that he believes the English captain can reinvent himself as an off-spinner. The 76-year-old recalled another famous English all-rounder, Ian Botham, who took wickets by delivering off-spin, and asserted that Stokes is capable of doing the same.
“It is evident that Ben Stokes is not entirely fit to bowl, and I wonder whether he can reinvent himself as an off-spinner. Eddie Hemmings accomplished it. Mike Watkinson accomplished it. Ashley Giles completed the task. And Ian Botham got wickets with his off-spin bowling. Stokes has a simple action that would not affect his front knee.
“I wouldn’t rule out his ability to convert. I realise this is a bold move, but it’s been done before. Anyway, Joe Root arrived, so I rest my case for the time being…,” he added.
On Day 1 of the second Test, England won the toss and invited the opposition to bat first after electing to bowl. Steve Smith’s unbeaten 85 led Australia to 339-5 at the end of their innings. In addition to Smith, openers David Warner and Travis Head scored 66 and 77 runs, respectively, for the team. Joe Root and Josh Tongue each took two wickets for England, while Ollie Robinson took one.
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