England allrounder Ben Stokes has declared himself “fit and hungry” to start the Ashes series against Australia.
Stokes was a late addition to the squad, having taken a break from cricket to mentally refresh and undergo a second operation on his fractured left index finger.
England captain Joe Root has been intent on not rushing Stokes back into the team but the allrounder looks to be ready to play in the first test, which starts in Brisbane on Dec. 8.
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“[Two] months ago, I couldn’t hold a bat,” Stokes wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday. “With 1 week to go till the first test, I’m fit and hungry for the big series down under.”
Stokes was in the first group of England cricketers who arrived in Brisbane on Nov. 6 ahead of the Ashes.
Despite having not played a Test match since March, Stokes’ mere presence is a massive boost for the tourists, according to his former coach.
Trevor Bayliss, who is now in charge of the Sydney Thunder in the BBL, knows full well how much of a loss Stokes can be, after missing him while his side lost 4-0 during the 2017-18 Ashes series in Australia.
“He’s a massive bonus. It’s not just his batting, his bowling or his fielding,” he said.
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“He’s one of those guys who is a leader within the group. He’s a very positive influence. There were times where he didn’t play because of injury in England and I think the team felt his loss when he wasn’t there.
“Certainly when he plays, he’s able to drag a lot more of the players along with him. He’s got a great attitude, a never-say-die attitude. It’s hard to put the finger on exactly what it is, but I’m quite sure they’ll be happy to have him back.”