STOKES ‘READY FOR AUSTRALIA’, ADDED TO ENGLAND ASHES TEAM

Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes on Monday was added to the England men’s Test squad for the Ashes tour of Australia.

Stokes, who has been given the all-clear by his consultant and the ECB medical team to resume training following his second operation on a fractured left index finger, will depart with the Test specialists and the Lions on November 4.

The 30-year-old is ready to return to competitive cricket following his break from the game at the end of July to prioritise his mental wellbeing.

“I had a break to prioritise my mental wellbeing and I got my finger sorted,” said Stokes in an official release issued by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

“I am looking forward to seeing my mates and being on the field with them. I’m ready for Australia,” he added.

Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, Ashley Giles, added: “Following a very successful operation on his finger and several conversations over the last few weeks between Ben and I, our medical staff and his management team, Ben called me to say he was ready to return to cricket and was excited about the prospect of playing a significant role in the Ashes series.”

“Time and time again, Ben has demonstrated how important he is to the England team and having him available for the Ashes series is excellent news for all of us and, in particular, Chris (Silverwood), Joe (Root) and the rest of the players,” he added.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan termed all-rounder Ben Stokes’ inclusion in the Ashes squad as the “best news” on Monday. “The best news to wake up too. Ben Stokes back involved & on the plane to Australia ..#Ashes,” Vaughan tweeted.

The Ashes will begin on December 8 at the Gabba, Brisbane followed by a Day-Night Test at the Adelaide Oval on December 16. The third test would be played in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test on December 26. The Pink Test would be played in Sydney on January 5 , next year with the series finale set to be played at the Optus Stadium in Perth on January 14/

England Squad: Joe Root (Captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Butler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood