Stokes Will Answer Australia: Strauss

"And I think the Australians, as a nation, they're going to really try and get under his skin over the course of these five Test matches," he said.

In the forthcoming Ashes, which will start on Friday at Perth’s Optus Stadium, former England captain Andrew Strauss cautioned Ben Stokes to be cautious of Australia’s attempts to get under his skin.

In Australia, Stokes will try to guide England to their first Ashes victory since 2010–11.

England will attempt to overcome their 13-0 record in Australia since their most recent series victory. The visitors’ lack of preparation, which included only one three-day warm-up match against the Lions at Perth’s Lilac Hill surface, has drawn criticism. Former England cricket players’ criticism of Stokes’ lacklustre preparation before playing their oldest rivals was dismissed as coming from has-beens.

“He’s amazing, in my opinion, Stokesy. On the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Strauss stated, “I adore his strategy; I adore his clarity of thought, and I adore the fact that he truly doesn’t care what any of us think about what they’re doing.”

Together with [head coach] Brendon McCullum, he has significantly advanced English Test cricket. However, Stokes, he has weaknesses. We are aware of his emotional nature. And over these five Test matches, I believe the Australians as a nation will make a concerted effort to irritate him,” he continued.

Strauss warns that the England skipper may find the series mentally taxing and feels Stokes may find it difficult to handle everything Australia throws at him. It will be more harder for Stokes to turn the tide back in England’s favour if they lose the first two Test matches and fall behind early, according to Strauss.

“As a captain, you must be able to ignore that and appear almost indifferent. “I believe Stokes will have a hard time with that, but he can and has done a great job in the past with his on-field performances – those amazing, inspirational performances, some of England’s greatest performances ever, with bat and ball,” Strauss said.

“He is capable of doing it, but it will be extremely taxing on his mind. It will be really difficult for him if England loses one or two Test matches early,” he continued.