Having Stokes in the team will be the difference between England capitulating at the first sign of pressure to a 5-0 series defeat to actually making a fist of it. 2 world class batters in each side now, with the rest distinctly average. It'll come down to the bowling IMO.
I've always said if England don't lose the first test in Brisbane they'll be then favourites to win the series, applies to every Ashes series.
With a La Nina year Brisbane could even be a draw due to rain. It'll be interesting to see how the Aussie batters go having not played any test cricket for 10 months.
