Stokes wouldn't have turned fortunes for the English, reckons Geoffrey Boycott

As Australia regained the Ashes courtesy a victory by an innings and 41 runs in 3rd Test at the WACA, all the trouble seem to dwell in the English camp. It was the eighth consecutive defeat for the visitors in Australia. A poor show by the English team so far in the series has handled them a humiliating series defeat with two more matches still to play.

With all the pre-Ashes talk surrounding the exclusion of Ben Stokes from the English side, it seems to have overridden on the minds of England players. They now find themselves on the cusp of a routing by the hands of Aussies in their own backyard, one can certainly expect 5-0 on the cards. With such unlikely results, former English player and a much-known face in English cricket Geoffrey Boycott reckons Ben Stokes’ inclusion wouldn’t have turned the tables in favour of the home side.

Stokes’ impact

Boycott, who is known for his outspoken nature reckons he doesn’t find it a big deal that Stokes is not featuring in the Ashes. He feels the all-rounder may have got you more runs, might have taken more wickets but he couldn’t have won you the Ashes.

The legend in his column for stuff.co.nz opined that Australia has more match winners in their side as compared to England and the visitors simply lack the spark in their bowling to put the opposition under pressure.

He believes that English pace attack is tailor-made for conditions that they get back home, but with sun out and surface not offering much to the bowlers, these fast-medium seamers won’t be as effective as Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood and moreover, Stokes is himself an English seamer.

Top order failure

This is a huge concern for the visitors, with two of their most experienced batsmen failing to score runs. Alastair Cook and Joe Root have been huge disappointments. Last time when England toured down under, similar was the case, with both of them not being among the runs. Cook had a paltry average of 24 from five Tests and the skipper with 27 in four Tests was an aghasting experience for the duo.