No Ben Stokes, No England, according to former Australian captain and Tasmanian great Ricky Ponting.
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The Ashes host nation’s all-time leading run-scorer said the arch-enemy lack bite without star all-rounder and vice-captain Ben Stokes, 26, who has been left out of England’s touring party until a police investigation into a late-night incident in Bristol two months ago concludes.
Ponting, 42, said it was a massive loss for the visitors, who lost 5-nil the last time they were down under.
“I think Australia can win 5-nil if Ben Stokes doesn’t play. He’s probably the most pivotal player in any international team in the world at the moment with what he can do with both bat and ball,” Ponting told the Sunday Examiner.
“England’s bowling attack when you think about it – Anderson, Broad – are both in their mid-to-late 30s and they need that all-round seam bowler to take a bit of the workload off them.
“If Stokes is not there they’re going to have to find someone else to do it and the rest will then come back on to Anderson and Broad, and I actually think they’re over the peak.
“They will be using a Kookaburra ball, so their effectiveness that they’ve been known for in England most of their careers won’t be there.”
Ponting said Australia’s attack is looking lethal with Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins likely to be accompanied by off-spinner Nathan Lyon for the first Test in Brisbane starting on Thursday.
“They are three of the up-and-coming fast bowlers in the world,” he said.
“They haven’t really reached their absolute potential yet and if they do they somewhere this summer, if Starc gets it right, I can see a bit of a repeat of what Mitchell Johnson did to them a few years ago.
“England’s batting is quite frail as they are looking for an opener, a No.3 and No.6 with no Stokes.
“They have got more chinks in their armour than any England team I have seen in the past 20 years.”
Ponting said Australia weren’t without their challenges as well, but comparatively, England’s are worse.
He said Stokes can expect a hostile reception from Australian fans should he be added to England’s squad throughout the tour.
“There are a few differing stories coming out now, which seems to me that they are trying to find away to get him on the tour,” he said.
“It would be great for the series if he does because he’s a world-class player, but if he doesn’t I can’t see England winning a game.”