Super Stokes looms as ideal Ashes villain

Star England allrounder Ben Stokes has given an exciting preview of why he's perfectly suited to be the Australian public's Ashes villain in what'set to be an enthralling five-Test campaign this summer.

Stokes plundered Australia's much-vaunted pace attack to all parts of Edgbaston on Saturday afternoon in a match-winning century that knocked the Aussies out of the Champions Trophy and also hinted at what's to come when cricket's oldest rivalry resumes at the Gabba in a little more than five months from now.

Quick Single: Stokes, England eliminate Australia

While both teams attempted to play down the role a sole one-day match in Birmingham would have on Test match proceedings in Brisbane, the fact it was Stokes - one of only a handful of Englishmen in their ODI set-up guaranteed an Ashes spot - who won the match for his side made it impossible not to think ahead to the summer.

As much as both teams tried to say otherwise, one-day battles leading into an Ashes series have long had a major impact on the Tests that follow. The resurgence of Mitchell Johnson in 2013-14, England's weakness against the short ball in 2006-07 and Australia's fall from grace in 2005 all had their roots in 50-over battles in the preceding months.

And while it was Mitchell Starc who veered from the pre-game hymn sheet by saying the Group A clash loomed as a chance for Australia to "find a few extra weaknesses" ahead of the Ashes, it was Stokes who landed the most meaningful blow.

Both in this tournament and for what's ahead.

The left-hander's entertaining knock at Edgbaston, his third century at ODI level, simply added to an impressive body of work that means he has a genuine case to be labelled the most valuable cricketer in world right now.

The Indian Premier League auction earlier this year proved that to be literally the case, but there's more substance to Stokes than big cash and big hits.

"His potential is through the roof," skipper Eoin Morgan said of his allrounder.

"His batting was exceptional. Very calm at the crease, very relaxed. All those games he's played really came to the fore today. He was outstanding.

Quick Single: ICC Champions Trophy: Day 10 wrap

"I think the IPL auction proved that (how valuable he is).

"He's always looking to influence the game - bat, ball, or even in the field. Even in the field today at mid-on, he saved a lot of runs. (He) went through a period today of about five overs where he was unbelievable. He always wants to be in the game.

"That attitude in itself, a lot of guys with potential like that, when things aren't going your way, go back into a corner. But that's not Ben."

In the depths of England's humiliating Ashes whitewash four years ago, the impressive debut of Stokes had given a fractured side something to grimly hold on to as they left Australia with their tail firmly between their legs and their immediate future on shaky ground.

Having debuted in the second Test in Adelaide, Stokes scored a fighting century against Johnson and co on a cavernous WACA pitch in Perth, a superb knock of 120 that saved some face for the tourists as they slid to a 150-run defeat.

But more than the runs Stokes scored and the wickets he took that summer, including 6-99 at the SCG, it was the way he played that most impressed observers on both sides of the Ashes divide.

He was brash, confident and clearly up for a fight where some of his more experienced teammates had none left. And the fact he was born in New Zealand and is prone to emotional outbursts on the field only adds to why he's the ideal candidate to be a pantomime Ashes villain.

While Stokes will no doubt be met with hostility Down Under this summer, there will be at least one familiar face out in the middle, that of Australia's captain Steve Smith.

Stokes's IPL captain at the Rising Pune Supergiant, Smith got a taste of his own medicine today as the left-hander batted with the freedom that underlined his impressive debut season in the world's biggest T20 competition.

And although Smith carefully side-stepped the question when he was asked point-blank if Stokes is the best player in the world, the Australian is clearly impressed.

"I don't like to put any tags on anything like that," Smith said. "But he's a fantastic player and he's getting better and better as well.

"He contributes in every aspect of the game, whether it's bowling, out in the field, taking great catches, or with the bat now.

"He's an incredibly strong lad and hits the ball very hard. So those are the kind of things you want in white-ball cricket.

"I think he's probably developed some smarts and timing of his innings and things like that. I'm sure the more he plays, the better he'll get at that as well.

"He's certainly a quality player, and he's in exceptional form at the moment."

If Stokes can bring his current form with him to Australia later this year, this summer's Ashes villain may just have the last laugh.

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2017-18 International Fixtures:

Men's Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Join the ACF

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI WACA Ground, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21