Stokes must maintain all-round status to rival Green in Ashes showdown

Before the unbeaten 135, Ben Stokes’s Headingley rescue act in 2019 began with the ball. It remains the somewhat forgotten preamble, the EP of promise before the first album that went platinum.

Stokes was skilful in his 24.2-over spell in Australia’s second innings, but it was his ferocity that stood out, his unwillingness to step aside as an already significant lead grew into what should have been a match-winning one. The final figures were three for 56, tidy but hardly reflective of what he had produced. Marnus Labuschagne, who took the brunt of it, said later that it was one of the best spells he had faced.

Australia’s then head coach, Justin Langer, remembered it too when speaking before the last Ashes. While still haunted by the final-day innings, what had come before was an even greater source of frustration. “I probably have more nightmares about his spell on day three of that game.”

For years, this has been our default image of Stokes: the all-action hero batting till the final ball, bowling with both fire and a grimace, the centre of our collective attention. Against Ireland at Lord’s, though, it went completely the other way, with Stokes not required with the bat and not bowling either. His one catch was at short fine leg. The man who occasionally becomes the game, hovered on its margins.

This is in keeping with his time as captain. Others have thrived under Stokes with the bat, reducing the requirement for him to don a cape. His attack has shown they can take 20 wickets without him, allowing him to rest his body. He is conducting the orchestra perfectly. But England still need him to put on the bowling boots this summer. Sure, there is his ability to prize one out when nothing else is working, the pitch is