The Ashes: Ben Stokes has left terrified Aussies sleepless before fourth Test, admits skipper Tim Paine
BEN STOKES left the wounded Aussies sleepless in Manchester before the Fourth Ashes Test.
Skipper Tim Paine has been tossing and turning, worrying about how to remove England ace Stokes.
Paine confessed: “I’ve lost a bit of sleep thinking about how we are going to get him out, that’s for sure. He’s a class player, he’s going well and he’s really confident.”
All-rounder Stokes’ unbeaten 135 inspired England to a miraculous one-wicket win to square the series at Headingley.
But Paine claims his off-spinner Nathan Lyon could be the key to snaring him.
He said: “Nathan bowled really well to him and created a lot of chances.
“If we hold our chances when Nathan is bowling to him, we can open the game up through the middle order. In the last couple of Tests, we’ve let Nathan down a bit with our fielding.”
Jofra Archer vs Steve Smith
Archer’s first ball at Steve Smith to be over 90mph: 2/5
Archer’s first ball to Smith to be a bouncer: 9/4
Archer to get Smith out in the Test Match: 11/10
Archer to get 5 wickets in an innings: 6/1
Smith to score 50 runs off of Archer’s bowling alone in the Test Match: 5/2
Smith to score a run off Archer’s first ball: 4/1
Smith to score a century in the Test Match: 7/4
Odds: SportNation.bet
England captain Joe Root has revealed that Craig Overton will replace Chris Woakes at Old Trafford today.
The Somerset man, 25, bowled Steve Smith in the 2017 Adelaide Test.
Root said: “Craig is a competitor.
“You saw him come into Ashes cricket, look very much at home and got himself in a battle.
Most Read in cricket
“I expect him to do that again this week.” Smith returns following his concussion and that has caused the dumping of Usman Khawaja.
Aussie ace Smith has reclaimed top spot in the world batting rankings — replacing India’s Virat Kohli — after back-to-back centuries in the First Test and 92 in the Second.
Aussie left-arm quick Mitchell Starc is poised to play his first game of the series.