England captain Joe Root, ahead of the second Ashes Test, said that he knows Ben Stokes is going to deliver a magical performance soon. The all-rounder had an off game at Brisbane, where he scored 5 and 14 in his two innings and returned with no wicket versus Australia. 

Stokes seemed troubled with a knee injury in the first Test. However, he said that he could manage the issue through the series. Australia won the Gabba game by nine wickets and lead the series 1-0. 

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Root admitted that he expected too much out of Ben Stokes in the first Test. 

“It was a huge ask and I’m probably as guilty as anyone; I expected too much of him. It’s because I see him almost as a bit of a superhero. Look at what he’s done in the last few years when he’s played; at least once a series, maybe twice a series, he’s done something extraordinary which has won us a game on its own. And you do get a little complacent about expecting that,” Joe Root was quoted by ESPNcricinfo. 

The skipper further added that England’s loss and his personal failure will motivate Stokes to deliver a magical performance. 

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“It’s easy to forget on a big occasion like that, whether it’s because he’s not played a huge amount and also what he’s had to go through recently as well, I think there was a bit too much on him. But you know the character he is, it’ll have motivated him even more now to put in one of those magical performances. Whether that comes this week or further down the series, I know it’s going to come,” Root added.

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“I think the only thing I’d probably say – and it sounds ridiculous – is not to try too hard. They’ve not played the first game but they’re world-class performers, they know what they’re doing and should trust what they’ve done for so long. Just go and be Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad if you get your opportunity.”

The second Test is a Day/Night match and will begin from Thursday.