England cricket fans can breathe a sigh of relief! Test captain Ben Stokes is back in training after his nagging shoulder injury, giving the team a huge boost ahead of the Ashes series in Australia. This is exciting news as the England cricket team gears up for the intense battle Down Under.
Stokes has been out of action since July, when he got injured during the fourth Test against India in Manchester. Even with the pain, the star all-rounder shone brightly, grabbing five wickets in the first innings and smashing a gritty 141 runs while batting. Sadly, he missed the fifth and final Test at The Oval, where Ollie Pope stepped in as stand-in captain.
Doctors thought Stokes might sit out for six to seven weeks, raising worries about his Ashes availability. But the 32-year-old has put those fears to rest by hitting the nets with his county side, Durham. With the first Ashes Test kicking off in Perth on November 21, this comeback couldn’t come at a better time for England cricket fans.
Durham coach Ryan Campbell shared the good update on BBC Radio 5 Live. “Stokes is back in training,” he said. “Over the last week, he’s started hitting balls and had a really good session. Scott Borthwick threw to him with coach Will Gidman for nearly two hours.” Campbell added that Stokes’ batting looks sharp, but his bowling will need more time. “The bowling side will take longer, and we’re treating him very steadily,” he explained.
England isn’t just relying on Stokes—they’re also monitoring fast bowler Mark Wood’s recovery from a knee injury he suffered during the ICC Champions Trophy in February. Campbell revealed that Wood is close to full fitness and might play a red-ball match for Durham in the County Championship next week. “I’ve got my fingers crossed that Wood plays for us next week. If he does, it’s great for Durham and even better for England. He’s extremely close,” Campbell said.
Stokes’ role is massive for England’s hopes of clinching their first Ashes series win in Australia since 2011. Campbell believes the team can only lift the urn if Stokes features in all five Tests and performs at his best. “The guy is so good because he makes your batting line-up deep and is a genuine force as a third or fourth seamer. He bowls tons of overs and grabs key wickets,” he praised.
The coach was blown away by Stokes’ dedication to recovery. “The way he works to get back just amazes me. That’s why he’s one of the greatest all-rounders ever, and it’s why he’ll be ready for Australia. He leaves no stone unturned.” But Campbell sounded a cautious note: “Can he handle five Tests in a row with that heavy workload? He’ll try his best, but I’m not 100 percent sure.”
As the Ashes series approaches, keep an eye on Ben Stokes and Mark Wood—their fitness could make or break England’s campaign in this epic cricket rivalry!
