FIRE STARTER

Photos: Reuters | ICC.com By: STUART HESS

The Ashes is upon us and England’s talisman Ben Stokes is back

“I had a break to prioritise my mental wellbeing and I got my finger sorted,” said Ben Stokes.

“I am looking forward to seeing my mates and being on the field with them. I’m ready for Australia.”

And with that Stokes officially announced he was back. After taking two months off, missing the enthralling Test series with India, the IPL and the T20 World Cup, England’s talisman was back for the Ashes. English cricket smiled - Joe Root perhaps more than anyone - and Australia grimaced.

Stokes improves England by 50%, not just because of his own remarkable abilities in all three facets of the game, but the lift he gives to those around him.

When the England captain spoke to his good mate, the feel-good factor returned immediately. “I just remember having a massive grin on my face for the next couple of days,” Root told The Guardian, about that phone call.

“It was just such a joy to hear him speak, you could almost hear his smile, if that makes sense, down the phone. You could tell he was so much happier within himself.”

One of the elements of “bubble life” is the sense of claustrophobia. There is no relief from the intensity, and it can feel like the walls are closing in.

Managing that has proved to be challenging for many sporting bodies and many are realising that despite the massive financial benefits that professional athletes acquire through sport, there is a huge mental burden that arises from operating within a bio-secure environment as has to be the case in the age of Covid-19.

The England and Wales Cricket Board were very happy to give one of their most important players that break, and additionally put no time limits on a return. Cricket South Africa did something similar with Quinton de Kock earlier this year when he returned from Pakistan, although De Kock still chose to go to India for the IPL, something Stokes chose to ignore during his spell out.

The famous Ashes urn.

Having a mentally refreshed and undoubtedly focussed Stokes in their team, drastically changes the dynamics of the Ashes.

While the Australians are under enormous pressure because they are playing at home, they would nevertheless have been marginal favourite, because of that home-ground advantage. England also have been overly reliant on Root’s runs this year and while he has carried that load magnificently - to the tune of 1 455 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 66.13, and made six hundreds - to expect that to continue, is maybe asking a bit much of Root.

His record in Australia, isn’t spectacular - he averages 38 there in nine Tests and is yet to make a hundred - so having Stokes around may assist in relaxing him, and relieve much of the pressure on his shoulders.

For Stokes there will be a certain freedom in playing once more. Of course there will be expectations, there always are with him. But he thrives in the spotlight and will happily accept those expectations and aim to end England’s year on a high.

Ben Stokes will play a crucial role with both bat and ball in the upcoming Ashes for England in Australia.