Stokes to dish out hard truths

BEN STOKES is ready to dish out some hard truths to England’s Test team after accepting the shine has come off his reign as captain.

- By RORY DOLLARD

A comprehensive 4-1 defeat in the Ashes, on the heels of a 2-2 draw at home to India over the summer, leaves England with precious little to show for a six-month period many felt would define the era.

Significant changes were made to the team to build towards a goal that has been badly missed, with the likes of James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes and Jack Leach moved on in favour of fresh blood in the form of Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jamie Smith and Shoaib Bashir.

The overhaul has not changed English fortunes in the way they had hoped, while the likes of Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett also faltered badly in Australia having been given generous backing.

With the 18-month countdown already on for the next home Ashes, Stokes is preparing to take a hard line.