Ben Stokes swings and misses with comments over scary change to Test cricket

Ben Stokes gets a lot of things right on the pitch. And he's regularly the man to bail England out of sticky situations. But when it comes to his latest views off it, the skipper's swinging and missing.

Stokes wants cricket to steer clear of allowing substitutions. He reckons it opens the door to tactical abuse. But that's a narrow view in a sport that's crying out for modernisation.

Change is scary. Nobody wanted technology in football. Nobody wanted line judges scrapped at Wimbledon. And nobody wanted the ugly Halo systems added to F1 cars. But the truth is, after a period of adjustment, it usually helps to bring the sport on.

England and India were walking wounded at the end of their fourth Test, and making just one substitution each could have sparked new life into the match.

Yes, the rule could be exploited for tactical reasons, as Stokes pointed out. But what is wrong with spicing up a match that is fizzling out to a dreary conclusion?

Test cricket needs life injected into it - not preservation for preservation's sake.

And now, with Stokes nursing yet another injury setback - this time a shoulder pushing his body through a half-fit return - you'd think he might appreciate the value of a bench boost. If he doesn't want to be subbed out, maybe someone else would. A fresh pair of legs never hurt anyone.

Hammer time

LEWIS Hamilton has been signed up for more years of misery after Ferrari announced Frederic Vasseur's contract extension.

One of the most successful team principals over the last two decades is a free agent, yet they're sticking with mediocracy.

Expect the 17-year trophy drought to continue.