Ben Stokes returns to training ahead of Ashes series
Ben Stokes has entered what teammates are calling “beast mode” as England intensifies preparations for the Ashes, reports BritPanorama.
The England cricket captain has been sidelined since July due to a shoulder injury that curtailed his summer, but he is expected to be fit to lead England in the first Test against Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium on November 21.
His return as a fully functioning all-rounder is crucial for England’s hopes of regaining the urn for the first time since 2015, and teammate Ben Duckett says the skipper’s training levels have stunned the squad.
Duckett remarked, “I can only say we’ve been out here for a few days and he’s been in beast mode.” He elaborated on Stokes’s rigorous routine: “He’s been running, bowling two spells, batting for two hours. The way he trains these days is something I’ve never seen before. He’s an absolute beast.”
Head coach Brendon McCullum has opted for a unique build-up to the series, shunning traditional tour matches against local opposition in favour of an in-house three-day clash against Andrew Flintoff’s England Lions at Lilac Hill. This strategy is designed to ensure higher-quality opposition; however, Lions seamer Josh Hull insists his side will not be going easy on the Test side in this week’s internal warm-up match.
Hull stated, “For England you want the batters to be in good form and whacking it about, but once you get into the battle, my job as a bowler is to take wickets for the Lions. You want them to have a good run out and feel good, but we’ll play our part by being really competitive.”
The 21-year-old left-armer, who made his Test debut last year, expressed a desire to challenge England’s top order, including Joe Root and Harry Brook, particularly on bouncy Australian pitches. He added that his own attributes could aid in preparing the England batters for facing Mitchell Starc.
Duckett believes England’s relatively fresh squad, with 11 players yet to play a Test in Australia, could work to their advantage. He commented, “We’ve got quite a fresh group where there’s not a lot of baggage, which I think will help us.”
As Stokes leads his side through punishing sessions in the heat, the Lions are preparing to push them to the limit. The Ashes series is scheduled to run from November 21 to January 8. With Stokes now back in form, the stakes for both teams appear higher than ever, underlining the competitive spirit that defines Ashes cricket.
