We’ll wait ‘until Stokesy is ready’

STUART BROAD says there would be no better platform for Ben Stokes to re-launch his career than this winter’s Ashes — but has called for calm regarding his return.

England Test veteran Broad is one of the players Stokes has kept in touch with most frequently during his break from the game, due to their founding, together with Jofra Archer, 4Cast — a business concept they have created in the gaming world.

‘If he’s beginning to feel better physically and mentally, then there is no better series to come back for than Australia at some stage,’ Broad said.

‘I have spoken to Stokesy a lot, but not once about cricket. Just as a mate. I didn’t want to push things with him. As far as I was concerned, the right time to talk cricket with him was when he wanted to.’

That moment came earlier this month when Broad received a WhatsApp from England’s vice-captain with images of him gripping a bat properly for the first time since he fractured his left index finger at the Indian Premier League in April.

‘It’s great news for everybody that Ben Stokes looks excited to be playing cricket again,’ Broad said.

‘Now we all have to stay calm and let him do it at his own pace. The worst thing we could do is apply the pressure on him of debating whether he could come back for the third Test — all that sort of stuff. We just need to let him do what he needs to do.

‘This broken finger caused him a lot of issues, actually. So to have that now heading in the right direction is a huge positive for Ben. When you are playing with an injury that’s sore every day, it feels like a permanent headache would.’