Ben Stokes might be England's talisman all-rounder but questions around his Test batting form continue to linger.
As the pressure builds ahead of the Manchester Test against India, former England captain Michael Vaughan has floated a bold idea: promote Stokes to No. 3 in the batting order.
With England leading the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-1, the upcoming match at Old Trafford could decide the series' fate. India are desperate to level the series and are expected to come hard with spin at Old Trafford.
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And that's exactly where Stokes has struggled. His captaincy has often masked his patchy run with the bat but his average of just 27.64 in Tests since January 2024 has started to raise eyebrows.
Vaughan, speaking on Cricbuzz, suggested that England should consider moving Stokes up the order - at least in the first innings, to protect him from spin-heavy conditions in the middle overs.
What did Michael Vaughan say about Ben Stokes' batting?
Vaughan pointed out that Stokes handles pace impressively but often finds himself stuck on the back foot against spin, something opponents are now exploiting.
"Against spin, he stays back even when the ball isn’t spinning, and that's when he gets trapped. Teams are targeting him," Vaughan said.
According to Vaughan, Stokes' technique against pace makes him a suitable batter for No. 3, especially early in the innings when the ball is new.
"I actually thought last year there could have been a way of Ben Stokes batting at three because he plays seam so well. England aren't going to change it now, but it might be something they could look at."
"Is he [Stokes] the best number three that England have potentially? And why not bat him at number three in the first innings, if they bat first? Maybe in the second innings you drop him down," Vaughan suggested.
The Number three spot is currently held by Ollie Pope who has been inconsistent. He averages 51 in Tests in 2025 but that is inflated by a 171 he scored against Zimbabwe in June.
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In the ongoing Test series against India, Pope scored a century in the first Test but has followed up with scores of 8, 0, 24, 44 and 4 -- all of which are underhwelming performances for a crucial position in the batting lineup.
Ben Stokes' stats vs spin and pace (since Jan 2024)
| Format | Innings | Runs | Balls Faced | Average | Dismissals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vs Spin | 27 | 325 | 591 | 19.11 | 17 |
| Vs Pace | 21 | 449 | 721 | 44.90 | 10 |
(Stats correct as of July 19, 2025)
The contrast is stark: while Stokes averages a 44.9 against pace, his average drops below 20 against spin.
Has Ben Stokes batted at No. 3 in Tests before?
Though primarily known for middle-order heroics, Stokes has batted at No. 3 in Test cricket before: just twice. He scored 61 runs across those innings, averaging 30.5 with a top score of 42.
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest | Avg | Balls Faced | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 61 | 42 | 30.5 | 94 | 64.89 | 0 | 0 |
While it's a limited sample size, Vaughan's suggestion is solely based on how Stokes can negate the spin threat. If the move helps him avoid the spin trap that has caught him too often lately, it's a change for the better for both the England captainand the team.
What's next for England?
With the Manchester Test set to begin on July 23, England may not tweak their batting order mid-series. But Vaughan's suggestion spark a rethink for the future - especially with another Ashes cycle looming.