Third Test: hail Stokes … and Woakes
If you take out Ben Stokes’ first innings knock of 80 then I doubt if England would have overhauled the Aussie total, who also should have the add the time of the Stokes occupation of the crease to bowl at England.
It was another herculean effort from the skipper.
But praise too for Chris Woakes who has not played any Test cricket for a year.
He is a genuine number eight – reminding me of Dominic Cork -who weighed in with 6 wickets and got England over the line after Harry Brook, the last batsman standing, was out.
He does not have the raw pace of Mark Wood, nor his infectious Geordie bonhomie, but when I encountered him in the breakfast room of the Trident Mumbai he struck me as friendly and decent. I do hope he keeps his place for Old Trafford.
It looks like Jimmy Anderson will come in for Ollie Robinson and Jonny Bairstow had an unhappy game so Ben Foakes, the better keeper, might get the nod.
The Aussies more than match England in every department except middle order batsmen but they do not hvae a Stokes with his batting feats and calm and clear leadership.
