Former England captain Nasser Hussain is adamant that star all-rounder Ben Stokes must play in the first Ashes Test next week.
Stokes was a late addition to England's Ashes squad, having not played a competitive game since taking a break from the sport to prioritise his mental health and recovery from a finger injury.
England's managing director Ashley Giles said earlier this week that he is "hopeful" Stokes will play in the first Test, but insisted England will not rush him back before he is ready.
Provided Stokes is fully fit and raring to go, Hussain believes the all-rounder is a "must-pick" for England.
Writing in his column for The Daily Mail, Hussain said: "In an iconic series when you need your toughest characters and the type of cricketer who will stand toe to toe with the Australians, Stokes is a must-pick for Brisbane on Wednesday.
"Just look at the type of players who have succeeded against Australia. Ian Botham, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and, lest we forget, Stokes himself so famously at Headingley in the last Ashes.
"They never took a backward step. So Joe Root will be desperate to have Stokes in his side at the Gabba.
"Root will have Jos Buttler one side of him and on the other he will want his talismanic figure, the man who will constantly be urging him to take the aggressive option. That man is Stokes."
Hussain went on to describe Stokes as "superhuman" and backed him to "have a fantastic series".
He added: "If anyone can put in a superhuman effort for England and score the weight of first-innings runs that will be crucial if they are to have a platform to win Test matches in Australia — that man is Stokes.
"A score of 300 may be enough to win a Test in England with the Duke’s ball, but in Australia with the Kookaburra it has to be 400-450 minimum. I wouldn’t put it past Stokes to have a fantastic series."
England's Ashes campaign gets underway next Wednesday in Brisbane at the Gabba, but their preparations haven't gone too smoothly due to the bad weather in the city.
