Stokes ‘fit and hungry for a big series’ ahead of Ashes opener

Joe
Root’s
side
get
their
campaign
started
on
December
8
in
Brisbane
and
will
be
boosted
by
the
return
of
their
star
all-rounder
Stokes.

The
30-year-old
has
not
played
competitively
since
July
and
was
initially
omitted
from
England’s
squad
as
he
recovered
from
a
second
operation
on
a
broken
finger
and
took
a
break
to
protect
his
mental
wellbeing.

But
Stokes
was
subsequently
added
to
the
travelling
party
in
October
as
he
assured
he
was
ready
to
make
a
comeback
for
the
tour
and
first
Test
at
The
Gabba.

Stokes,
who
averages
38.37
against
Australia,
offered
England
a
scare
when
he
took
a
blow
to
the
forearm
in
a
net
session
last
week
before
Root
confirmed
the
Durham
man
was
fit.

With
just
a
week
to
go
before
the
two
old
foes
do
battle
once
more,
Stokes
is
relishing
the
opportunity
to
take
on
Justin
Langer’s
side.

“Don’t
call
it
a
comeback,”
Stokes
posted
on
Instagram
alongside
a
video
of
him
training
with
bat
and
ball
on
Wednesday.

“Spent
some
time
testing
out
the
finger
with
[Adidas]
last
month.

“Two
months
ago,
I
couldn’t
hold
a
bat.
With
one
week
to
go
till
the
first
Test,
I’m
fit
and
hungry
for
a
big
series
Down
Under!”