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Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has urged England to reconsider Ben Stokes’s batting position following their challenging performance against the Indian Cricket Team on Day 1 of the IND vs ENG 1st Test. While Stokes emerged as the highest run-scorer with an impressive 70 runs, Chopra questioned the wisdom of having a premier batter like Stokes batting lower in the order.
Chopra highlighted the unconventional presence of a pure batter at number 6, emphasizing that Stokes, who is currently not bowling, should be utilized more strategically. Expressing concern about the lack of accountability for wicket loss when batting at number 6, Chopra proposed a simple solution – moving Stokes up to number 3.
In this scenario, Ollie Pope would be pushed down the order, creating a lineup that capitalizes on Stokes’s dynamic batting style and allows him to complement Joe Root effectively. Chopra emphasized the importance of accountability in batting positions and suggested that Stokes could better lead the team’s batting charge if positioned higher in the order.
“If you score runs, people will say he is a lone warrior. If he doesn’t score then people will say how can you bat with tailenders? Hence there is no accountability of getting out at number 6. Why not come to bat at 3? Put Ollie Pope down the order. Though you have scored 70 runs, you can’t fight this battle if you are down the order,” concluded Aakash Chopra on his YouTube Channel.