Ben Stokes to miss 2nd Test: Michael Vaughan bets on Moeen Ali or Chris Woakes

Even after they registered a 31-run win over India in the first Test in Birmingham, England have one issue to address and it is about finding a replacement for all-rounder Ben Stokes in the second Test starting at Lord’s next Thursday, August 9.

Stokes, who played a key role in bowling out India in their second innings by taking four wickets, including the prized one of Indian captain Virat Kohli, will miss the Lord’s Test as the trial over his Bristol nightclub brawl last September will begin on Monday, August 6.

Speaking about the 27-year-old all-rounder’s likely replacement, former England captain Michael Vaughan told BBC that England will take a look at the prospects after judging the character of the pitch on offer at Lord’s. According to him, spinner Moeen Ali or all-rounder Chris Woakes could be the likely replacement for Stokes.

“They’ll get to Lord’s, see the pitch and make the decision,” Vaughan, who was the captain of England in the 2007 series that India won under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy, said on BBC Test Match Special.

Dawid Malan to give way for a right-hander?

Vaughan also backed the idea of replacing left-handed middle-order batsman Dawid Malan with a right-hander to counter Ravichandran Ashwin, who claimed seven scalps in the game including left-handed opener Alastair Cook twice.

Vaughan, who played 82 Tests for England between 1999 and 2008 and scored 5,719 runs at an average of 41.44, also backed the idea of sticking to the same team which has won the first game of a series for at least two or three matches.

England came back strongly on Day 3 after the visitors reduced them to 87 for 7 in the second innings after conceding a slender lead of 13 runs. Propelled by a determined fifty from young bowler Sam Curran, the hosts reached 180 and set India a target of 194 which they could not achieve, thanks to another poor batting display. The only high point for India’s batting was Kohli who scored 200 runs in the match.

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