OLIVER HOLT: Ben Stokes' leadership is causing Aussies struggles

OLIVER HOLT: It just had to be Ben! Stokes’ conviction leadership is posing questions that Australia are struggling to answer… the England captain’s strength of character is inspiring!

• Ben Stokes has been a force as England’s captain throughout the Ashes so far 
• The strength of character he’s shown with his decisions has been inspiring 
• Australia cut their deficit to just 82 runs after another eventful day at Edgbaston

There is a force about Ben Stokes, a kind of primeval strength, a sense of indomitability, a gift for leadership, that has already imposed itself on this Ashes series as England and Australia go blow for blow in an enthralling first Test at Edgbaston.

Stokes and the decisions he makes and the philosophy he espouses have dominated the opening two days of this contest. It is clear already that his strength of character and his conviction-leadership are inspiring England and posing Australia questions they have sometimes struggled to answer.

That leadership was there in a blur of bowling changes Stokes made in the first session yesterday when they claimed the wickets of David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. Stokes used seven bowlers in all.

It was there in turning to Harry Brook for a few overs.

It was there in the aggressive field settings, the Praetorian Guard of short extra cover, silly mid-off, silly mid-on and short midwicket that was used for Jimmy Anderson’s overs to Cameron Green.

Ben Stokes’ leadship qualities have paid dividends for England in the Ashes series thus far

The England captain lifts his arms in the air to celebrate the dismissal of Steve Smith

It was there in the mildly disconcerting culture clash that this game has become, casting England as cavaliers and entertainment junkies and Australia as dour grinders deeply suspicious of their opponent’s new persona.

And it was there in the stubborn boldness of persisting with the bowling of Moeen Ali when he was being hoicked all around the ground by Travis Head and Usman Khawaja in the afternoon.

Moeen’s first seven overs after lunch went for 45 runs but Stokes stuck with him and when Head hit another attempted lofted drive into the hands of Zak Crawley at mid-on, Moeen turned first to Stokes as he wheeled away in celebration.

Even when he does not have the ball or the bat in his hands, Stokes is at the heart of the revolution in the way England play Test cricket and if some have asked whether Manchester City’s success would ebb if Pep Guardiola left, others have wondered whether England’s commitment to boldness would survive if Stokes were absent.

‘He challenges the game,’ Khawaja, who ended the day unbeaten on 126, said of Stokes after the close of play. ‘I love what he is doing. The way they batted yesterday was great entertainment and I’m talking as someone who was on the field, trying to stop it.’

The idea of Stokes’ absence, the idea that he might break down, has been the fear that has peopled the nightmares of England supporters in the weeks and months leading up to these Ashes as it has become clear the skipper is having to work hard to manage knee problems that have dogged him for some time.

He did not bowl at all in the Test against Ireland earlier this month, his left knee is heavily strapped beneath his whites and the last Test wicket he took, before yesterday, was that of Devon Conway when England played New Zealand at Mount Maunganui in February.

Moeen Ali produced an excellent example of spin against Australia on day two of the Ashes

That was why what happened just before lunch yesterday felt so important. Smith had come into bat after Stuart Broad had claimed the wickets of Warner and Labuschagne in consecutive balls. Smith had weathered the storm and begun to dig in. Michael Vaughan, newly, if belatedly, restored to the BBC commentary box, could see that Smith was preparing for a long innings.

‘Steve Smith is batting like he’s just planning on settling in for the day,’ Vaughan said. ‘He is not going to change a thing. He’s thinking low risk and he’s not bothered about that.’

Then, to raucous cheers from the Hollies Stand, Stokes brought himself on from the Pavilion End. He bowled a tight, neat first over and conceded just a no ball and a single off the first five of his second over.

Smith berated himself after every ball, as is his custom. He gestured constantly to no one in particular about nothing in particular. He pulled at his clothing in the manner of Rafael Nadal, taking comfort in ritual, using it to blot everything else out. In cricketing terms, though, he was untroubled.

Then Stokes drew deep on his talent for seizing the day. With the last ball of his second over, he dug it in off a slightly shorter length, it speared past Smith’s bat and hit him high on the pad. Stokes knew. He turned to umpire Marais Erasmus and let loose a roar that was part demand and part desperate entreaty. Erasmus paused, perhaps for effect, perhaps because the ball was high, and then raised his finger.

Stokes raised his arms to the heavens and then bent over and rested his hands on his knees. He was exultant, of course, but he looked relieved, too. He is crucial to this team but after so much doubt about his ability to contribute as a bowler, he had just taken the wicket of Australia’s best batsman.

Stokes looked both exultant and relieved following Smith’s dismissal on day two of the Ashes

Smith could not believe he was out. Players of his ability often find it impossible to grasp their own fallibility. He signalled he wanted to review the decision and now Stokes stood among his team-mates, his hand to his face in a vain attempt to conceal his emotions.

In the instant the umpire’s decision was confirmed, Stokes let out another triumphal roar and lifted his arms high once more. Smith’s face was distorted with horror. He stalked back to the pavilion, swishing his bat in irritation. It felt like a moment laden with significance, not just for the outcome of the first Test, which is so finely balanced at the end of the second day’s play, but for the series as a whole. 

It will be a huge advantage for England if Stokes, who finished the day having bowled seven overs and taken 1 for 33, can make a contribution as a bowler in a side that is short of options but it was also a moment when England’s talisman had taken down Australia’s.

‘It had to be Ben Stokes,’ Sir Alastair Cook told the radio listeners. ‘It just had to be.’

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