Paul Collingwood hails ‘phenomenal’ Ben Stokes for helping heal England wounds

Paul Collingwood credits a reinvigorated Ben Stokes with helping heal the “scar tissue” of England’s Ashes defeat.

A 4-0 humiliation Down Under left the Test side in need of new direction, with Collingwood stepping up as interim head coach following the sacking of Chris Silverwood.

He has yet to get England back to winning ways after two games in charge, with the West Indies hanging on for draws in Antigua and Barbados, but it has been refreshing to see them back on the foot and dictating the pace.

Key to their endeavours has been Stokes, who has looked somewhere close to his influential best over the past couple of weeks. He was, by his own admission, lacklustre in Australia as he averaged 23.60 with the bat and 71.50 with the ball – struggling to find form after taking a four-month hiatus to preserve his mental and physical health.

Stokes has looked a different prospect in the Caribbean: fitter, feistier and full of charisma. He reeled off an explosive 120 at the Kensington Oval, his first century since the summer of 2020, and has bowled with real fervour.

Originally slated to play a minor role with the ball due to a recent side strain, he has instead sent down 77 overs – more than any other seamer in the series.

Now he’s fit, he’s determined and you can tell he wants to make a difference in the dressing room as a leader.

“He’s phenomenal, he’s box office,” said Collingwood. “He was going into the Ashes with not much cricket under his belt. Now he’s fit, he’s determined and you can tell he wants to make a difference in the dressing room as a leader.

“When he’s preparing himself like he is at the moment he certainly leads. He wants to go out in the middle and put in big performances. He wants the ball in hand, to score