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[smilley792]

I see ben stokes is in the runs. He just smoked 151 of 86 balls including 15 sixes.


Big bash gave him some confidence??

[rich041187]

Giving him a bit more responsibility up the order maybe helped. Think he went in at number 5, whereas he was shoved in a 8 in main team. Help the youngsters by giving them a clear game plan, and they've proved they can succeed. Question is how do you squeeze him in the world cup team?? Not gonna bat ahead of root or morgan

[smilley792]

Billings also got 56 of 33, and roy with a fifty.



Stoked gone for 8 of his first over though, that doesn't seem to be picking up.

[Manormanic]

If Ballance is injured he should be called up.  As for where he bats...not sure, but they have to learn the lesson that he bats in the top order when he plays.  BAt him at eight and he thinks like an eight...

[edge]

Should be in the England side batting at 5 as far as I'm concerned, with Morgan batting 6.

[Buzz]

Some performance by Stokes today - another example of terrible management by the England camp.

up until this tour he hasn't merited inclusion - I expect the first injury will see him in Australia.

[Kieron_BT]

Some performance by Stokes today - another example of terrible management by the England camp.

up until this tour he hasn't merited inclusion - I expect the first "accidental" injury will see him in Australia.

[sfa82]

I was at the game this afternoon and Stokes and Billings were striking the ball cleanly against a decent bowling attack. Ground is quite small so they lost quite a few balls during the last ten overs. Stokes certainly sent a strong message to the England selectors. Some very clean hitting and good cricketing shots.

[Kieron_BT]

Not sure a quite buy this bat at 8 bat like a number 8 argument.

He's a professional cricketer, all he needed to do was score runs and he'd have started to move up. Keep being the not out batsman and it will get noticed, pretty much how it is with every amateur team.

Whats the argument, he can't give it a biff at number 8? Todays knock has proven that wrong. There has been enough top quality WK batsman batting at 7/8 and not had to use that argument?

[edge]

Not sure a quite buy this bat at 8 bat like a number 8 argument.

He's a professional cricketer, all he needed to do was score runs and he'd have started to move up. Keep being the not out batsman and it will get noticed, pretty much how it is with every amateur team.

Whats the argument, he can't give it a biff at number 8? Todays knock has proven that wrong. There has been enough top quality WK batsman batting at 7/8 and not had to use that argument?

In an amateur team you'll get a chance to bat a decent number of overs at 8 a lot more often, in ODI cricket a no 8 getting a chance to build an innings is rare, never mind the chance to score a ton. Ridiculous management by England, selecting Stokes as a bowler was always bound to backfire in ODIs. Play him in the role every other team he's played for has used him, as a proper top order batsman, and view the bowling as a bonus. Hate to see players getting picked in the wrong role and then dropped because they're not performing in it - imagine Rooney wouldn't last too long in the England footy team at left back!

[Sam]

Problem for Stokes is there hasn't been a slot in the team that fit him unless he acted as one of the 4 bowlers, of which he couldn't. Now perhaps Boparas spot is starting to open up into consideration a bit.

[ppccopener]

I think 'the forum' could be piling in on that Sam...if you want a batting allrounder stokes does fit in ravi bops role :-)
I like Bopara actually but if we are rebuilding with youth they might as well left stokes in to fight thru his horror batting trot
Bopara tends to do 'enough' just to stay in the team...

[Sam]

I think 'the forum' could be piling in on that Sam...if you want a batting allrounder stokes does fit in ravi bops role :-)
I like Bopara actually but if we are rebuilding with youth they might as well left stokes in to fight thru his horror batting trot
Bopara tends to do 'enough' just to stay in the team...

Stokes in recent batting form yes probably could get into Boparas role. It's just the fact that he went through a horror with his bowling in Sri Lanka (and still seems to be getting hit around a bit) which made him practically unpickable.

In addition we now have to consider how well Moeen is bowling and Stokes would get considerably less overs presumably meaning he'd have to do pretty well with the bat.

[Bats_Entertainment]

I thought there might be a "Why won't England pick Ben Stokes?" thread by now...

[ppccopener]

Calling wood just came out in the press pretty much slating the selectors....
I know he is his County team mate but he has a point...
England stuck with Bopara and much as I think he is a terrific player, if we are going with hales/Taylor/root/ali etc Stokes fits the Bill
We do have to grasp giving it some hammer...all the other countries do