Nasser Hussain picks 2 players who can replace Ben Stokes

The arrest of Ben Stokes created a stir in the English cricketing fraternity, as the fans and former players feared the loss of one of the best all-rounders in the world at the moment. But that unwanted scenario of fielding a team without Stokes lies in front of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after the video featuring Stokes displaying his boxing skills on a person outside a nightclub in Briston went viral.

England are gearing up for one of the fiercest battles in Test cricket, the Ashes, which will get underway in November, at the Gabba in Brisbane. The current situation has left both the fans and the pundits perplexed, as they are contemplating on a player who is good enough to fill Ben’s shoes. Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has named two players whom he wants to take up Stokes’ vacant position.

Hussain has stated that if the all-rounder is ruled out of the series, Tom Westley and Samit Patel should be called up. “I realise that Patel is no Ben Stokes, but then no one is, otherwise they’d have been selected in the squad in the first place. Patel has been scoring runs for fun with Nottinghamshire recently, and his left-arm spin provides some balance,” said the legend, as per givemesport.

“Jimmy Anderson and Broad are exceptional bowlers, but being part of a five-man attack in home conditions is very different from being part of a four-man attack in the heat of Australia. If Patel can fill in even with just 10 overs a day, it allows England’s Anderson, Broad and Chris Woakes to have a breather while the Kookaburra goes soft, or if they’re waiting for the second new ball or even for reverse swing,” he further added.

Westley has the experience of 5 Tests

28-year-old Tom Westley featured in the 5 Test matches against South Africa, and the former skipper feels he is the right man to do the job, given that he has some sort of experience of playing against a top-notch side.

“As for Westley, it’s true that England are not spoiled for choice when it comes to middle-order options, but at least he has the experience of five Tests under his belt this season,” he concluded.

Watch the video of the brawl-