Hussain and Atherton discuss the reasons why Stokes and Woakes should be included in the XI

Both the all-rounders didn't play the recently concluded ODI series.

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Nasser Hussain
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Nasser Hussain. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Yesterday, England, at the Old Trafford in Manchester, completed a thumping 5-0 victory versus arch-rivals Australia. Throughout the entire duration of the series, the Brits looked insurmountable as the visitors tried their hearts out to find some breathing space, but all in vain. The hosts’ batting looked solid with the likes of Johnny Bairstow, Jason Roy and Alex Hales performing exceptionally well.

Jos Buttler, in a couple of matches, also pulled out two of his best knocks in ODIs. Skipper Eoin Morgan also chipped in with the willow. Their bowlers also didn’t flounder and were able to curb the opposition batsmen. In the meantime, the likes of Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes, two the Poms’ integral all-rounders, are also waiting in the wings to make a comeback following their injury layoff.

“He’s a destructive player”- Atherton on Stokes

Stokes suffered a hamstring tear before the second Test versus Pakistan earlier this month which also ruled him out of the recent series. Ben Stokes injured his right quad during the same match and didn’t play the previous series. Moreover, he was ruled out of England’s upcoming fixtures versus India as well. Meanwhile, former cricketer Michael Atherton considers Stokes as an indispensable member of the team.

“You have to play Ben Stokes, He gives you so much in all areas of the game; he’s a destructive player, not that England are short of those! He is an extra bowler and the best fielder in the England team. Woakes gives you wicket-taking options with the new ball and excellent death bowling. He also offers you depth with the bat,” Atherton was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

On the other hand, Nasser Hussain, another former English player, believes that staying flexible is the best method to stay in sync in with the requirements to perform well. “If you are going to leave one of Roy, Bairstow or Hales out then you’d better come in and perform. The older I’ve got the more I’ve gone ‘horses for courses’.

If it’s a Trent Bridge sort of surface, do you need that extra batter? Do you need Joe Root going in with two or three overs to go? I’d have played the extra bowler there. When you get to Cardiff in an ICC semi-final and it’s a turning pitch, I’d want the extra batter,” Hussain mentioned.

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