Adelaide Strikers coach Paine wants Stokes to open the batting this summer

[p]All-rounder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stokes-ben/bqDhqGMG/"]Stokes[/a], who signed for the T20 franchise on Tuesday, is usually a middle-order batsman but ex-Australia captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paine-tim/Yqp84lza/"]Paine[/a] has other ideas.[/p][p]"[b]I think he's made to open the batting in the Big Bash. The pacey, bouncy wickets in Australia really suit him[/b]," said the Strikers head coach.[/p][p]"[b]I've been on the end of a couple of his devastating innings in Test cricket where you feel like you can't defend the field. He can play 360, he's got power.[/b]"[/p][p]Should the 35-year-old do so he would partner Strikers captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/short-matthew/K6i23oVb/"]Matt Short[/a], another destructive big-hitter.[/p][p]"[b]I love the combination. They're both really different. Both absolutely world class,[/b]" said Paine.[/p][p]Stokes retired from the international game midway through [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/UJC5mtAU/"]England[/a]'s recent Test series defeat against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/G6PWlrQB/"]New Zealand[/a] but has continued playing county cricket for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/durham/OSM5vpR2/"]Durham[/a].[/p][embed guid="7102a580-2848-4749-830b-93569dfa735b" url="https://x.com/BBL/status/2095033919989301602" social-type="twitter" /][p]He had been dropped for the second Test against New Zealand after breaking a team curfew in a nightclub incident also involving England team-mate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/atkinson-gus/Aodjczhc/"]Gus Atkinson[/a].[/p][p]Despite the controversy and Australian fans' love-hate relationship with Stokes, Paine is confident he will be warmly welcomed.[/p][p]"[b]I know Australian cricket fans have loved beating England and love beating Ben Stokes,[/b]" he said. "[b]But they've absolutely always respected the way he plays the game, how competitive he is and how much he wants to win.[/b][/p][p]"I think Australian fans will really warm to his character and his personality.[/p][p]"[b]We expect he'll be a fantastic role model for our club and for our fans."[/b][/p][p]Stokes's decision to play for Adelaide takes him back into the T20 franchise world after a brief stint at Big Bash side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/melbourne-stars/MPk7NTBN/"]Melbourne[/a] Renegades in 2015.[/p][p]He is available for the entire tournament, which runs from mid-December to January 26.[/p][embed guid="634b0e89-bfe1-4cc0-b3d3-0012f0f52bac" url="https://x.com/BBL/status/1847101924069507233" social-type="twitter" /]