Rain puts paid to Stokes’ return to action

BEN Stokes’ return to action has been delayed after the opening day of England’s warm-up match against England Lions in Brisbane was cut short due to heavy rain.

Stokes has been included in England’s Ashes squad after taking an indefinite break from all cricket in July to prioritise his mental well-being and rest a finger, which he had fractured.

England openers Haseeb Hameed (53 not out) and Rory Burns (39 not out) had taken England to 98 without loss before play was halted early in the second session in Wellington Point.

Durham all-rounder Stokes, set to bat at number five, made his last England appearance in a one-day international against Pakistan in July.

England’s Ashes squad members who were involved in the T20 World Cup have not been included in the warm-up match and will stay in quarantine for one more week.

The first Ashes Test at the Gabba starts on December 8 and the fifth and final Test is scheduled for Perth’s Optus Stadium on January 14.

■ MIDDLESEX have appointed former England spinner Monty Panesar as a talent-spotter in the Inner London boroughs.

The county believe Panesar, who played 50 Test matches, will have a big impact inspiring and motivating the next generation of young cricketers on the Middlesex pathway.

His job will involve identifying and nominating talent to play in the county’s borough age group squads at under

10, under 12 and under 14 levels and building a winter training programme to develop youngsters.

Ayaz Hussain has been appointed to cover Ealing, with Jim Clarke taking over at Enfield and Barnet.

“To be able to attract someone of Monty Panesar’s calibre and experience to the role speaks for itself,” said Middlesex’s assistant head of youth cricket Mark Lane.