England have been handed a significant boost ahead of the Ashes with Ben Stokes set to be able to bowl in the first Test after a lengthy net session.
The hosts on Wednesday revealed their team for the opening Test, with veterans Stuart Broad and James Anderson both named to start the series at Edgbaston.
Amid concerns about their longevity at ages 36 and 40, England have opted to go with the pair, leaving out Mark Wood and naming Ollie Robinson as the third quick.
Jonny Bairstow, who scored four centuries in five innings last year, will bat at No.7 for the English in a real sign of their depth.
But the best possible news for England is that of Stokes.
With concerns lingering over his problematic left knee, the allrounder sent down five overs at full speed in the Edgbaston nets on Wednesday.
The net session marked his most strenuous since having his IPL ended by a number of injuries in April, while also battling ongoing issues with his knee.
Stokes has attempted to play down concerns around his fitness in the past week, after going four weeks without bowling in the lead up to the Test series.
He did not bowl in England’s one-off Test win over Ireland, and grimaced after hobbling when taking a catch on the third morning.
The 32-year-old then returned to bowling in the nets after the match, and completed a solo mid-wicket session bowling at around 50 per cent on Tuesday.
But Wednesday’s spell will give England hope he can bowl in the first Test come Friday.
“To have him back on the park, it’s going to be a big boost for us really,” England batter Harry Brook said.
“In my opinion, he’s the best allrounder in the world and has been for many years now.”
Stokes’ fitness looms as crucial for England.
With Jack Leach out of the team and Moeen Ali admitting he is not a bowler to hold up an end, Stokes’s overs will be invaluable around Broad, Robinson and Anderson.
The allrounder bowled himself to the ground in the last Ashes series in England in 2019, with his 5-56 in 24.2 overs at Headingley overshadowed only by his fourth-innings batting feats.
Stokes has been forced to manage a chronic issue in his left knee in recent years, and had the issue flare up during England’s tour of New Zealand in February.
If he is able to get through the Ashes, there is a clear window for Stokes to have a long rest period for his knee, given he is retired from white-ball cricket and England have no more Tests this year.
AAP