Ben Stokes has no interest in easing into the Ashes. England’s captain, sidelined since July with a shoulder tear, says this week’s three-day intrasquad game against the Lions at Lilac Hill “will be proper and taken very seriously”. If anyone was hoping for a gentle loosener, the skipper has different plans.
“I’ve been bowling like that for two months now,” Stokes said after another lively session on Perth’s northern outskirts. “It was nice to put the feet up but once the rehab started, I’ve hit the ground running. There has been a lot of hard work to get my body in a good place. I’ve had two-three months of building up to get here and that’s where all the hard work comes in.”
Key facts first
• Stokes returns in Thursday’s three-day, XI-v-XI contest.
• Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are fit and expected to crank up the pace.
• Ollie Pope looks set to stay at No.3, though Stokes stopped short of confirming it.
• First Ashes Test at Optus Stadium begins in nine days.
Shoulder sorted – for now
Stokes damaged his shoulder during the final India Test, a match he missed after sending down 17 wickets across the series. There is still a hint of caution, yet no hiding his appetite for hard yards. “[Injuries] could happen any time, one of those things when you’re an athlete you’re always exposing yourself to injuries,” he said. “It’s part of what we do. I bat, bowl and field. It’s a pretty high intensity role that I do. It’s frustrating, but also a little bit of realisation that I might have a little niggle here and there.”
Full throttle, no half measures
“Next few days is balls to the wall for everyone, no easing into it and it will be a good run for everyone,” Stokes insisted. “We’re going to be giving everyone in our squad time out in the middle. Everyone will be getting an opportunity.”
That means competitive overs for Archer and Wood, something England have rarely managed in tandem. Pace remains their trump card on the typically quick Optus surface and Stokes sounded genuinely upbeat. “It’s great to have the X-factor that Jof and Woody possess in terms of pace,” he said. “Woody’s got over his knee surgery he had quite a while ago, he’s overcome that, and he’s looking really, really good. Jofra’s been out on the park for two-and-a-half years now, so it’s great seeing those two flying in and sending some fast balls down there at our guys as well. He’s going really well. He’s been looked after with workloads to get to this point. He’s in a great place at the moment.”
Selection picture – steady as she goes
Assistant coach Marcus Trescothick hinted this week that Pope will remain first drop and Stokes did nothing to dispel the idea. “We’ve been very consistent with our team selections. We know exactly what we want,” he said. “Pope’s done a great job for us at number three.” Beyond that, expect the usual blend of specialist quicks, the reliable spin of Jack Leach and, of course, Stokes’s own all-round heft if his body holds up.
A low-key venue, big-time intent
Lilac Hill is more famous for its relaxed festival matches than cut-throat Ashes prep. That will change on Thursday. England want every player – senior or Lion – tested under near-match pressure. The captain’s language could hardly be clearer: “It will be proper and taken very seriously the next few days. We’ve got nine days until the first Test and a lot of things can happen.”
Casual fans may wonder why England are squashing all their preparation into one internal fixture. The short answer: tour schedules are tight and the leadership would rather control overs, match-ups and workloads than rely on patchy state opposition. A three-day, first-class style hit-out, with normal red-ball rules, gives coaches the data they need and players some time in the middle.
What next?
Provided Stokes emerges unscathed and Archer-Wood crank hits the mid-90s (mph, that is), England will fly to Optus feeling ready. The Ashes rarely reward conservatism. Stokes knows it, and his squad have just three days to show they do too.
