THIRST PLACE

Stokes will end self-imposed booze ban if England claim top spot in Test rankings

- BY MIKE WALTERS

BEN STOKES will happily fall off the wagon if England take the first steps towards reclaiming No.1 in the Test charts at Trent Bridge.

When the International Cricket Council's rankings were revised earlier this month, England surfaced at No.2 behind Australia.

But with a series against India later this summer, and the legacy-defining Ashes tour in November, Stokes fancies planting the cross of St George back at the summit.

After the updated rankings were published, the England captain sent coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key his mission statement in a five-word message: “One more place to go”.

England have not been at No.1 in Test cricket since 2012, when Sir Andrew Strauss was skipper.