Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg feels English captain Ben Stokes should be in top form for England to win the upcoming Ashes 2023. He said that he, with his bowling, can turn the game around and can win matches.
Ashes 2023 is just a couple of dreams away from now. The long-awaited series between England and Australia will kick off on June 16, followed by the Lord’s Test on June 28. The third game will be played on July 6 in Leeds, while the final two games are scheduled for July 19 and 27 at Manchester and the Oval respectively.
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But for them, the fitness of their skipper, Ben Stokes, will be crucial. The all-rounder has been battling a knee injury for a while, which has prevented him from bowling. He has not bowled in Test cricket since the series against New Zealand in 2022/23 and was even sidelined during the 2023 IPL.
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Brad Hogg is also on the same page and feels that if Ben Stokes bowls in the series he may cause problems for the Australian batsmen. Speaking in a video that he posted on his Instagram account, he said:
“For England to win, Ben Stokes has to be fully fit to add to that bowling depth. He is aggressive, fast and throws that short pitch ball to the body that worries most Aussie batsmen. It will be crucial with his physical condition.”
Also read: Ashes 2023: “Australia will have to keep Ben Stokes out of the game” – Justin Langer
Ashes 2023: “McCullum has his team running like a well-oiled machine,” says Brad Hogg
Since Brendon McCullum took over as manager of the English team, they have looked completely different. Their bazball approach has seen them take down the opposition both at home and away.
They defeated New Zealand, India, South Africa, Pakistan and Ireland and are yet to lose the series under the new skipper and coach. Of the 13 Tests they have played, they have won 11 of them and have worked hard with the opposition.
Brad Hogg praised Brendon McCullum for the England team’s success, saying he has perfect lithium batteries to power his troops. He explained:
“McCullum has his team running like a well-oiled machine. England have been the best Test team in the last 12 months and there is no question about that. He has the perfect lithium batteries to charge his troops”.
England have not lost the Ashes series at home since 2001. They would be keen to keep the record. So far in the 72 Ashes series, Australia have won 34 while England have emerged victorious on 32 occasions.
Also Read: Ashes 2023 “I Was Angry At The Time” – Usman Khawaja Reveals He Was Upset After Justin Langer Left Him Out Of ODI Team
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