In his first press conference of the tour, Stokes described Ollie Pope as the “man in possession” as he gave a strong indication he will retain his place at no.3 for the first Test at the Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes stopped short of unequivocally naming Pope in England’s XI for the Test with nine days to go before the Ashes starts but they seem certain to not tweak their top seven. The team are due to play their only warm-up from Thursday, a three-day game against their own Lions team at Midland-Guildford Cricket Club.
England will pick an XI for the two innings match rather than rotate players in and out, but some of the first-choice bowlers may line up for the Lions to give the Test batsmen a stronger challenge. One of those will be Mark Wood, with Stokes saying everyone will get a run out. Wood is expected to play his first game since February after knee surgery and Pope will bat at no.3, an indication he has fought off competition from Jacob Bethell, who failed to seize his chance in New Zealand.
“Look we have been very consistent with team selections,” Stokes said. “We know exactly what we want from the team we pick. Popey has done a great job for us at no.3. He is the man in possession. But nine days to go and there is a lot of things that can go right, and a lot of things that can go wrong so we will have a team from us one day or two days out as normal.
“It’s great to have the X-factor that Jof and Woody possess. Woody has got over the knee surgery he had quite a while ago, he’s overcome that and is looking really good. Jofra has been out on the park for 2.5 years now, so it’s great to see those two out on the park flying in with some fast balls down at our guys.”
Stokes, who has not played since the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, declared himself fully fit and looked in good physical shape ahead of his biggest challenge as captain.
“That’s all I’ve been doing for last three months; making sure I’m fit and strong,” he said. “And then when, the Test series starts, it’s about being sensible through the rest periods, about how much work that I do do, because I’ve had two and a half three months of building up to get here now, and that’s where all the hard work goes in. That’s where you put all the high intensity and tough work in. And then as you get into a series, that’s where you sort of taper off on that and just kick over in between the games.”
Josh Hazlewood injury plunges Australia’s Ashes preparation into further worry
Australia’s plans for the first Test were plunged into further doubt when fast bowler Josh Hazlewood limped out of a state game with a right hamstring injury.
Back up Test bowler Sean Abbott also suffered a hamstring strain in the same game for New South Wales against Victoria in Sydney, adding to their long line of injuries.
Hazlewood was scanned and cleared of a strain and will head to Perth as planned for the first Test but has a worrying history of breaking down in opening matches of a series. He twice went off with injury in Perth against India last year and missed three games of the series with a side strain.
With Pat Cummins already out of the first Test, Australia will be desperate for a fully fit and firing Hazlewood to lead the attack but will now be mindful of his workload. Cameron Green did not bowl on day two of Western Australia’s state game at the WACA with Queensland after sending down eight overs on day one as he makes a cautious return to the all-rounder’s role. Cricket Australia confirmed Abbott is out of the first Test depriving Australia of one of their back up bowlers.
