England captain Ben Stokes hasn’t been spending much time batting in the nets, as he has been focusing more on improving his pace with the ball.
Stokes, who made his comeback to play the one-off Test against Zimbabwe after recovering from injury, scored 9 (13) in the first innings. Regardless, England won the Test comfortably by an innings. Recent reports suggest that Stokes is not keen on spending extended periods batting in the nets, choosing instead to concentrate on his bowling.
Vaughan Questions Stokes’ Lack of Match Practice Before India Series
Speaking on the same, former England captain Michael Vaughan expressed surprise at the lack of batting preparation ahead of a big summer for England. He pointed out that Stokes’ brief innings against Zimbabwe showed how little time he has spent in the middle, stressing that his contribution with the bat is vital for England’s success.
"I've been staggered by the lack of time in the middle that Ben's had as a batter. He didn't have a great year last year when he got his injuries."
Vaughan also suggested that Stokes should have played for the England Lions to get some match time rather than heading straight into the series against India.
"He's had no game time. Why wouldn't you want to play for England Lions just for a knock, not to bowl? He was bowling against Zimbabwe, and clearly he's fine, but why wouldn't you just want a bit of time in the middle? Call me old school, but I think it's quite nice to go out and hit a few balls."
Vaughan Stresses Stokes Must Excel as All-Rounder to Win Ashes
Moreover, Vaughan emphasised that England can only beat Australia in the Ashes if Stokes is fully fit and performing as an all-rounder. He made it clear that simply playing as a batter won’t be enough.
"England can only win in Australia with him, and that's him being the all-rounder. If he goes to Australia just as the batter, that completely breaks the balance of the team. And as much as he's a genius captain, the team are 30–40 per cent better when he bowls. To win in Australia, he has to be bowling and batting well."
Finally, Vaughan shared his expectations for England ahead of the summer, hoping to see the team bring intensity and ruthlessness to every match.
"I just want to see that ruthless approach this summer, and if you get on a winning run, win every game. I look at all high-level sports teams, and I don't see a relaxed environment. I see a high intensity, high performance environment, and that's sometimes tough, hard work. It's not always smiles and patting on the back." he concluded
Stay tuned for more updates on the India tour of England 2025
