Former England captain Sir Andrew Strauss has praised Ben Stokes as “phenomenal” ahead of the Ashes but cautioned that Australia will try to unsettle him.
With the visitors seeking their first series win Down Under since 2010/11 after three winless tours, local media have already taken aim by calling Stokes a ‘cocky complainer’.
Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain, meanwhile, noted that England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ style under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum appears to be irritating Australia.
Strauss hails Stokes
“I think he’s phenomenal, Stokesy,” Strauss said on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
“I love his approach, I love how clear he is in his thinking and I love the fact he really doesn’t care what any of us think about what they’re doing.
“He’s pushed English Test cricket forward quite a substantial way, alongside McCullum, but he has got vulnerabilities, Stokes.
“We know he’s an emotional guy, and I think the Australians, as a nation, they’re going to really try and get under his skin over the course of these five Test matches.
“As a captain, you need to be able to suck that up and almost show that you’re unaffected.
“I think Stokes is going to find that difficult to do, but what he can do, and what he’s done very well in the past, is answer with his performances on the pitch – those incredible, inspired performances, some of England’s greatest performances of all time, with bat and ball.
“He has the ability to do that, but it’s going to be very draining for him mentally.
“If England lose a Test match or two early, that’s going to be a real challenge for him.”
READ MORE: Cricket news: England’s Ben Stokes laughs off Australia media jibes as Ashes heat turns up
Hussain backs Bazball
Ahead of the first Test in Perth on November 21, Hussain has backed England’s attacking style of play, saying: “You’re taking on a nation, you’re taking on the papers, the press, the crowd. Bazball has wound Australia up.
“They have been waiting for this particular England squad to get over there, so you need tough cricketers.
“You look, historically, at who’s done well against Australia, it’s [Ian] Botham, Stokes, [Stuart] Broad, Strauss, Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen – those sorts of people that are going to take them on.
“I think you need those sort of characters in your setup, because Australia will come at you hard for weeks on end.”
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SportJustSport writers