Print

[ppccopener]

I'm not sure about his early county days but he played his club cricket at my hometown club and was always played as a genuine all rounder right up until signing for Durham.

did you play any cricket with him Northern? if so is he the sort of bloke you could call a ginger minger and get away with it? by the looks of his arms he could lift a house

[shamelessshaun]

I played against Stokesy all through Junior Cricket, He used to open the Bowling in the junior teams and was one of the sharpest around, but it was his batting that always stood out, he put me over Cockermouths Club house on a few occasions and I returned the favor as well. In answer to his temper, the ginger gene is definitely present!

Played against Jordan Clark also who used to be a Keeper batsman at juniors but is now bowling for Lancs 1st Team

[northernboy1987]

Same as our Shameless friend here I only ever played against him not with him. Back then I could have called him it because he was only a teenager and I'm about 5 years older than him, not sure I would say it now mind haha! He was too quick for me (I'm rubbish mind) even at 15/16 and he held the fastest ton in our midweek league (before it's demise) aged about 14 years old playing against men he got to 100 off around 40 balls, hit the ball a freakish long way and we all hit it a long way up here (bred tough you see ).

Apparently he's always had a temper too, I was just finishing 6th Form when he joined our secondary school I think so I never really bumped into him then but mutual friends have often remarked on his temper, I believe fatherhood has calmed him somewhat though (at least off field!). For the record his dad is apparently a bit of a nutter too so it must be in the blood haha!

[shamelessshaun]

For the record his dad is apparently a bit of a nutter too so it must be in the blood haha!

Rugby League blood in his veins!

[northernboy1987]

Rugby League blood in his veins!

Nonesense, my grandfather played League for England and I turned out ok..........................

[Sivlar13]

I've heard Stokes is rediciulously loose on a night out. Especially so when it comes to being in Oz.

[ppccopener]

I've heard Stokes is rediciulously loose on a night out. Especially so when it comes to being in Oz.

come Friday in Manchester he will be fully focused i'm sure 

[dcullen8]

@Sivlar13. Thats why they included ballance in the team for the first test, they needed to make up the quota of drinkers whilst stokesy was out.

[smilley792]

Ball and Finn released form squad.

So then there was 12!!

Rashid still there.

[rickjames]

Heading up from London for Day 2. Never been to OT before, what's the easiest way to get there from Piccadilly Station? Bus appears to be the least of hassle

[ppccopener]

BALL looked pretty good last match, he's got some pace.

Jimmy and Stokes back

COME ON ENGLAND !!!!

[cricketbadger]

Thank god they let Finn go, would have been typical of the old England to keep him involved and probably play him, looked woeful last test

[Felix Tito]

Wouldn't be too surprised to see James Vince get chopped and Ben Stokes play as a pure batsman.

Cook
Hales
Root
Ballance
Bairstow
Stokes
Woakes
Ali
Rashid
Broad
Anderson

[ppccopener]

Wouldn't be too surprised to see James Vince get chopped and Ben Stokes play as a pure batsman.

Cook
Hales
Root
Ballance
Bairstow
Stokes
Woakes
Ali
Rashid
Broad
Anderson

You think we need 2 spinners at Old Trafford because England will stay loyal to Ali for a bit longer or because we genuinely need 2 spinners?  last time( I think) we played two twirlies at home was panesar and swann at Cardiff ashes test....

I think....

[Alvaro]

You think we need 2 spinners at Old Trafford because England will stay loyal to Ali for a bit longer or because we genuinely need 2 spinners?  last time( I think) we played two twirlies at home was panesar and swann at Cardiff ashes test....

I think....

Kerrigan and Swann at the Oval 2013