England captain Ben Stokes has expressed confidence about his fitness ahead of the Ashes series, confirming he has been bowling at full intensity for the past two months. The all-rounder, who has been recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in late July, will make his return in a three-day intra-squad match against the England Lions starting Thursday. Stokes emphasised that the warm-up fixture will be taken seriously, with the entire squad participating alongside Lions players. He praised the pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, calling them the team's "x-factor". England are likely to retain Ollie Pope at number three. Despite being labelled a "cocky captain" by Australian media, Stokes remains focused on his goal of helping England win an Ashes series in Australia. The first Test begins in nine days at Optus Stadium.
Stokes confirms full intensity bowling and injury management
Stokes revealed he has been bowling at full pace during England's training sessions at Lilac Hill in Perth for two months, easing concerns about his readiness. The all-rounder suffered a torn shoulder muscle during the fifth Test against India in late July after a heavy bowling workload. He acknowledged that injuries are part of his high-intensity role as an all-rounder who bats, bowls and fields. Stokes stressed that the upcoming warm-up match will be "balls to the wall" for everyone, with no easing into it. He confirmed the entire Ashes squad will participate in the practice match, giving everyone an opportunity in the middle before the first Test.
Archer and Wood labelled as England's pace weapons
Stokes highlighted the importance of fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, describing them as England's "x-factor" due to their exceptional pace. Wood has recovered well from knee surgery, while Archer has been carefully managed with workloads after spending two-and-a-half years away from the game. England are considering playing both in tandem for the first Test on the expected fiery surface at Optus Stadium. Stokes also backed Ollie Pope to continue at number three, praising his performance in that position. Despite being branded a "cocky captain" by Australian media, Stokes remains determined to help England win the Ashes in Australia.
Source: Link