Stokes on track for white-ball return, Pakistan tour

Stokes ended his one-day international retirement to play in England’s woeful defence of its 50-over World Cup title in India last year. But following knee surgery, he opted out of England’s lacklustre bid to retain the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States earlier this year.

FILE PHOTO: Despite further injury trouble this season, Ben Stokes said he was open to resuming a limited-overs career. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Test captain Ben Stokes indicated on Tuesday he would be ready to make an England limited-overs comeback.

Stokes ended his one-day international retirement to play in England’s woeful defence of its 50-over World Cup title in India last year.

But following knee surgery, he opted out of England’s lacklustre bid to retain the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States earlier this year.

Despite further injury trouble this season, Stokes said he was open to resuming a limited-overs career that has seen him play match-winning innings in the finals of the 2019 50-over and 2022 T20 World Cups.

“This white-ball team has gone in a new direction,” Stokes told Sky Sports in an interview during the third one-day international between England and Australia at his Durham home ground on Tuesday.

“We’ve seen some unbelievable talent come through, just to point out one: Jacob Bethell, who I think is going to be a superstar.

“I’ve played a lot of white-ball cricket for England, I’m very happy and content with what I’ve achieved in that form of the game.”

Stokes, who has played in 114 ODIs and 43 T20s, has worked well alongside Test coach Brendon McCullum, with the former New Zealand captain set to take charge of England’s limited-overs teams in the new year.

“If I am part of the white-ball teams’ plans going forward in any way, shape or form then great,” said Stokes. “If I get the call, saying ‘do you want to come and play?’ It’s definitely going to be a ‘yes’.”

Nevertheless, the 33-year-old added: “But I’m not going to be too disappointed if I don’t because it means someone’s come in and doing really well. I can just sit back and watch everyone else go out and smack it.”

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Stokes missed England’s recent 2-1 Test series win over Sri Lanka, with Ollie Pope deputising as captain, after suffering a hamstring tear when playing for Northern Superchargers on August 11.

On track to be back as skipper against Pakistan

He is likely to resume his role as skipper after he underwent a scan on Wednesday to assess his recovery ahead of travelling to Pakistan next week for a three-match Test tour that starts in Multan on October 7.

“The results of the scans were positive and confirmed that his recovery, since sustaining the injury six-and-a-half weeks ago, remains on track to participate in the upcoming Test series against Pakistan,” the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Wednesday.

While saying he feels “really, really good”, Stokes was more guarded when asked whether he would be able to bowl and be a fully-fledged all-rounder for the first Test.

Even if he is ready to lead England in Pakistan, there will be doubts about Stokes’ ability to bowl in the early part of the tour.

When Stokes was asked if he was likely to be able to bowl in the first Test, he said: “I think that’s you getting ahead of yourself.”

“Obviously I’ve been six-and-a-half weeks now of just walking and doing stuff in the gym. But rehab has gone really well.

“There’s a lot more than just my hamstring that I need to get back firing and working up again in terms of bowling, because you use everything. I need to get that all right to make sure that I don’t do any damage to other parts of my body.”