Toby Roland-Jones says England are missing Ben Stokes in the Ashes
Monday 4 December 2017 11:36, UK
Toby Roland-Jones believes the absence of Ben Stokes is affecting England’s performance against Australia in the Ashes.
Stokes, who is suspended from playing for England because of an ongoing police investigation after being arrested in Bristol in September, made a return to competitive cricket on Sunday with Canterbury.
Roland-Jones - who looked set to be included in England's Ashes squad after taking 17 wickets in his first four Tests before he sustained a back injury - feels the loss of Stokes has hurt the tourists.
"There's no doubt from a cricketing point of view and a dressing room as vice-captain that it's going to have an effect having that player missing," Roland-Jones told Sky Sports News.
"He's over in New Zealand trying to get some cricket in but I think also it's important to recognise that he hasn't played now in a few months.
"If people are expecting him to come in and straight off the bat have an effect, then I'm not sure it's going to be quite that easy for Ben.
"It certainly leaves a bit of gap. I think what he allows them with the balance of the side is something which no one can really come in and fill that gap.
"It's definitely a big miss and at the moment it's certainly looking like England are almost missing that edge on both sides with both bat and ball."
When asked what's gone wrong for England, Roland-Jones said: "It's hard to say really. I think Australia have certainly played very well.
"I think that pace attack has certainly proved to be pretty tough to deal with for the guys and they've struggled really to hold enough pressure on their batting line-up.
"They'll certainly be targeting that top order getting bigger runs and maybe looking to exert a little bit more pressure with the ball throughout all four of the seamers, and hopefully restrict that Australian top order a bit more."
After suffering a season-ending stress fracture in his lower back in September, Roland-Jones also gave an update on his recovery.
The 29-year-old said: "The back's improving actually. I've started bowling again; doing some indoor work and I've joined the ECB fast bowler's programme.
"I'll be doing that in the build-up to Christmas and hopefully look to be 100 per cent by the New Year."
