England’s hopes of reclaiming the Ashes in Australia rest heavily on the fitness of captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes, according to former England batter Mark Ramprakash.
Ramprakash believes that if Stokes is able to feature in all five Tests, England could defeat Australia “quite comfortably”. The series begins this Friday in Perth, with England aiming to win the Ashes down under for the first time since their 2010-11 tour.
Stokes’ Importance to England’s Side
Stokes, 32, has been plagued by injuries in recent years, missing matches in three of England’s past series. Most recently, he was ruled out of the fifth Test against India in the summer, which England went on to win to draw the series 2-2. Previous injuries included a hamstring tear in Pakistan and a recurrence in New Zealand last December.
Ramprakash, who worked closely with Stokes during his tenure as England batting coach, highlighted the all-rounder’s impact both on and off the field.
“He seems to really connect with his team-mates. He knows how difficult it is to be an international cricketer. He gives them his full backing and has great empathy to understand the ups and downs,” Ramprakash told BBC Radio 5 Live during the Ashes preview show.
The former England international stressed that Stokes’ absence would leave a “massive vacuum” in leadership, decision-making, and morale.
“If Ben Stokes plays these five Tests, then I think England win and win quite comfortably,” Ramprakash added.
Ashes History and Stokes’ Legacy
Stokes has already produced memorable Ashes moments, including a century in his second Test in Perth during the 2013-14 tour. His most famous performance came at Headingley in 2019, where his match-winning century, alongside spinner Jack Leach, secured an iconic victory for England.
Leach recalled the intensity of that innings:
“[David] Warner had been going at him. He said, ‘I am not walking off that pitch until we have won the game,’ and he was really fired up. Obviously, he ended up doing it.”
Stokes’ Ashes career also includes numerous examples of resilience and leadership, traits that his county coach, Western Australian Ryan Campbell, highlighted in the run-up to this series.
Campbell criticized the Australian media for targeting Stokes, saying:
“There is two blokes I wouldn’t have a crack at—that is Ben Stokes and Joe Root. They are the calmest and take it on board to give back in spades. Pick your targets a bit better.”
The Challenge Ahead in Australia
Despite Australia’s historical dominance at home, England will be buoyed by the presence of Stokes, who provides balance as a top-order batter, strike bowler, and captain. His leadership qualities, combined with his experience in high-pressure situations, are viewed as critical to England’s Ashes strategy.
With the first Test at Perth Stadium approaching and the five-match series scheduled across Australia, much depends on Stokes’ fitness, form, and mental focus. If he remains injury-free and plays all five Tests, England could be well-positioned to reclaim the Ashes after more than a decade of waiting.
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