Footage stokes the fire for Ashes
BEN STOKES has returned to the nets for the first time since announcing he was taking an indefinite break from cricket.
There is increasing optimism that England’s star allrounder could feature in this summer’s Ashes after he posted footage of himself batting in the nets on social media, two weeks after a successful operation on a fractured finger.
Stokes broke his left index finger while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League in April but the initial surgery left him with constant pain, which was a factor in his decision to take a break to protect his mental health.
During the second operation, scar tissue which had been causing pain was removed and Stokes is able to correctly grip a bat again. He has now started hitting balls, albeit against gentle throw-downs.
The 30-year-old only played for England three times this summer. He has not played cricket since appearing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred on July 26.