Ben Stokes should be used as a batsman for England, according to Steve Harmison

Steve Harmison says England have misused Ben Stokes, after the all-rounder gave the selectors a glimpse of his huge potential with his best ever T20 score on debut for the Melbourne Renegades.

Batting at three, Stokes struck 77 off just 37 deliveries, helping the Renegades to a 37-run win over Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash.

According to Harmison – his former team-mate at Durham – Stokes would have relished the opportunity to play up the order.

“What he’s doing is showing people that he’s a top-order batsman,” said Harmison. “People that know him have always said he’s a batsman that can bowl.

“And so he’s almost been a victim of his own success because he can bowl so well.”

His bowling has prompted England to play Stokes as a genuine all-rounder, operating lower down the order with 10 of his 19 ODI innings – where he averages only 15.66 – coming at either seven or eight.

“I taught him everything he knows about batting at No 8,” said notorious tailender Harmison.

“If you pick someone to bat in a certain place they’ll bat that way, especially at No 8 when you’ve not got much time and you’ve got to hit out from ball one almost.

“If you give him a bit of time, up top, he will get a big score, I’m convinced by that because he’s made for playing on the big stage.

“No ground in the world is big enough when someone like Ben Stokes gets going.”

But Stokes is not included in England’s squad for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which given the destructive nature of his innings, was heavily debated by those in the commentary box.

One of the commentators, West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards, said: “I guess [Stokes] is sending a message to Mr Downton [ECB managing director] and all the other guys who are responsible for selection – I’d really like to know what they are looking for.”

Harmison doesn’t feel Stokes was necessarily going out there to prove a point, and thinks some of the comments should be taken with a pinch of salt.

“Sometimes the Australian commentators do like to mock the English on selection a little bit and have a go," said Harmison. “But I take it from Viv.

“If someone like him is saying you’re a star player, then you must be good.”