Ben Stokes has revenge on his mind for England’s World Cup semi-final - Australia should heed the warning

Ben Stokes has uncharacteristically flown under the radar at this World Cup, but Australia need to be aware of the dual danger he presents, and learn from his single failure in the competition.

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Of all the vaunted English strike power threats to Australia’s World Cup title defence, Ben Stokes remains uniquely placed to inflict the most damage.

With the bat he can destroy attacks; with ball in hand he can be a match to even the most experienced international batsmen.

Two players in one. A genuine allrounder equally skilled in both facets. A player who will have occupied minds within Australia’s tactical meetings perhaps more than he has in the wider build up to Thursday’s semi-final clash.

Ben Stokes can impact the World Cup semi-final to England’s advantage in both innings.

There is mitigation in that.

With Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow leading from the front, piling on the centuries and setting up victories over New Zealand and India, when England’s dreams of a first 50-over title was on the line, it is understandable Stokes has been underestimated.

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He has yet to reach three figures in this tournament. But in quiet and diligent fashion he has arguably been the hosts’ most dependable asset.

Coming in a six he has faced fewer balls than those ahead of him in the order. Though three times he has posted 79 or higher and has proved himself more capable of reading a match situation better than many of his team-mates.

In defeat to Australia at Lord’s, he did more than most to try and turn the yellow tide with a belligerent, gutsy 89. And could have forced a closer contest still had others kept their head as he did.

There was no shame in succumbing to the unplayable Mitchell Starc yorker that cleaned out his poles.

A concern for Australia will be that his defining contribution to this campaign is yet to come.

He would love for it happen against the old enemy.

In the lead up to the match he has spoken of exacting revenge for the group stage loss. And hasn’t shied away from the notion that beating Australia holds a special place in his heart and those of his compatriots.

“Playing against Australia is a big occasion in any sport,” he said this week. “The rivalry goes way back and we have the Ashes this summer too. Beating them is that touch better than any other team.

“Losing to them at Lord’s was massively disappointing, so I think there will be a bit of redemption for that, knowing we have the chance to beat them and reach that final.”

Stokes relishes the added intensity of Anglo-Australian sporting conflict. And often brings his best to such occasions.

His first Ashes tour was a calamitous one for the team. A 5-0 whitewash inspired by the hostility and pace of Mitchell Johnson in 2013-14.

Within that crucible, however, Stokes proved himself personally equal to the challenge. In Perth he bludgeoned a maiden Test century (120 off 195 balls) and followed up with career best Test bowling figures of 6 for 99.

Stokes is known for his consistent intensity in every training session.

All in a losing cause, of course. But one that set up future battles.

The 28-year-old will be part of a five strong seam attack for England at Edgbaston on Thursday.

He has averaged 54 with the bat and 29 with the ball during this World Cup, claiming seven wickets despite his primary role being a middle overs brake on opposition scoring rather than a pure hunter of wickets.

There is a symmetry of sorts between how he and David Warner have gone about their business while still in redemptive mode in the eyes of their respective publics. Even if Warner’s contributions to have been more eye-catching (Stokes’ otherworldly catch in the opening match of the competition against South Africa notwithstanding).

Just as Warner and Steve Smith have recently returned from a purgatory of their own making, so Stokes has had to set about rebuilding a reputation after the ugly scenes of a late night brawl outside a Bristol nightclub in 2017 viewed across the globe.

The fallout from that saw him miss an Ashes tour and face drawn out criminal proceedings, from which he was eventually cleared.

“It opened my eyes up to a lot of things, two years ago, but I don’t have to prove anything to anyone,” he said of the incident he remains infamous for.

“It’s just showing I can deliver on the biggest stage. Winning is the most important thing and, if you can help the team out with an individual performance, that’s all that counts. People can say good things, bad things ... it just won’t bother me.”

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He says he has “huge respect” for Smith and Warner in how they have shouldered the jeers and taunts from the stands in England, and gone about their work in a professional manner. Though he stopped short of taking the Virat Kohli approach of urging fans to go easy on them.

For now he is letting his bat and bowling do the talking. Without losing a fiercely competitive intensity that sees him almost having to be dragged off the training paddock.

There was one moment he lost his cool, however. And it will not have gone unnoticed by the Australian coaching staff preparing for Thursday’s match.

Stokes was filthy with himself after giving his wicket away against New Zealand.

While it ultimately didn’t cost England, who went on to comprehensively rout New Zealand in their final group match — an effective quarter-final after defeats to Sri Lanka and Pakistan endangered their place in the last four - that match witnessed his only true failure of the last month or so.

With England looking to set a first innings total beyond New Zealand’s ability to chase, the pressure built as Matt Henry and the other Kiwi bowlers deliberately took the pace off the ball when bowling to him.

Stokes likes the ball coming on to the bat and grew visibly unsettled as he was unable to force the issue, mistiming shots to the field before throwing his wicket away when caught at long-on for 11 runs off 27 balls.

His fury at the error was palpable as he stormed off the field admonishing himself.

Australia will take note. A realisation that the hyper-competitive Stokes can be undone by challenging him in that fashion.

Fail to heed that lesson, however, and Australia risk Stokes turning a tournament of quiet achievement in to one of eye-catching, historical consequence.