'Ian Botham took wickets, it’s been done before' - David Lloyd urges Ben Stokes to switch to off-spin in ongoing Lord's Test

Former England cricketer David Lloyd suggested England skipper Ben Stokes try off-spin if he is unfit to bowl seam-up deliveries in the ongoing Ashes series. With a two-wicket win over the hosts at Edgbaston in Birmingham, the Pat Cummins-led Australia took a 1-0 lead in the five-game series. 

Day 1 of the second Test saw Australia putting up 339 runs on board and losing five wickets. There was a point in the game where the bowlers struggled to pick wickets. Neither spin nor pace worked for England as Steve Smith and Travis Head managed to put up a century partnership.

Reflecting on Day 1 of the ongoing second Test at the Lord’s Cricket ground, Lloyd wrote in his column for Daily Mail saying:

“Late in the day, I had a quiet moment and wondered if I was old fashioned and whether the game was passing me by because England were crying out for a spinner. They had no sense of deception or guile with four right arm quicks. It was all very predictable and one-dimensional." 

It’s clear that Ben Stokes isn’t fully fit to bowl and I wonder if he can reinvent himself as an off-spinner: Lloyd

Lloyd went on to say that Stokes is clearly not fully fit to bowl and he feels the English skipper can reinvent himself as an off-spinner. The 76-year-old recalled another renowned English all-rounder, Ian Botham, who took wickets bowling off-spin, and said Stokes can do the same.

“It’s clear that Ben Stokes isn’t fully fit to bowl and I wonder if he can reinvent himself as an off-spinner. Eddie Hemmings did it. Mike Watkinson did it. Ashley Giles did it. And Ian Botham took wickets bowling off spin. Stokes has a basic action and it wouldn’t put any strain on his front knee.

“I wouldn’t put it past him to be able to convert. I know it’s a left-field call but it’s been done before. Anyways Joe Root came along, so I rest my case for now…,” he added.

Speaking of Day 1 of the second Test, England won the toss and invited the visitors to bat first. Steve Smith scored an unbeaten 85 to guide Australia to 339-5 at stumps. Apart from Smith, opener David Warner and Travis Head played significant knocks, scoring 66 and 77 runs, respectively. For England, Joe Root and Josh Tongue picked up two wickets while Ollie Robinson grabbed one.