When it comes to crunch matches against New Zealand, there is only one man who England and their fans will always put total faith in… Ben Stokes.
The talisman all rounder has shown that he is made for situations like this, and even though he hasn’t produced his best with the bat yet this winter, and although he hasn’t trained since Thursday, the expectation remains high.
While his team-mates were busy putting the finishing touches to their preparations in the nets at the nearby Allan Border field, Stokes made a delayed entrance to the ground and then only to perambulate around the boundary edge in conversation with the team doctor.
