Exclusive: England Boosted as Ben Stokes Declared 100% Fit to Bowl Ahead of Ashes Series

Ben Stokes will be fully fit and operational as a bowler, not just a batsman, in the enervating five-match Ashes series against Australia starting November 21 in Perth. 

The England captain had missed the fifth Test against India at the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in July due to a shoulder injury.

In September, the 34-year-old started training, primarily batting, with his county side, Durham, but there were concerns over his bowling fitness. Now, he is fit and raring to go.

STOKES, THE HARDEST WORKING AMONG THE GREATS

Having watched the talisman closely in recent training sessions, where he bowled, Durham head coach Ryan Campbell was convinced he would be firing on all cylinders Down Under. 

"I think Stokes will be 100 per cent for the Australian tour. The man works harder than anyone I have ever seen. I played my whole career with the likes of Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, and Michael Hussey in Australia. They were all hard workers, but Stokes goes above and beyond those guys. He leaves no stone unturned to make sure he is ready to go."

"The last I saw of him; he looked in unbelievable condition. I think he will play a major part in the Ashes. All-rounders are a prized possession in world cricket. England has got one of the greatest of all time," he told SportsBoom.co.uk. 

Born in Perth, Campbell played first-class cricket in Western Australia before two ODIs for the Australian national team, and three T20Is for Hong Kong later in his career. 

After coaching Hong Kong and the Netherlands, he joined Durham as head coach. He even had conversations with Stokes about batting at Perth. 

"It is important that you look to play the cut and pull more than the backfoot drives, as you could get yourself in trouble with the extra bounce. We have had conversations about Gabba, too," said Campbell, who played at the ICC World T20 for Hong Kong in 2016; the same tournament where West Indies batter Carlos Brathwaite smashed Stokes for four sixes in a row to win the final.

BRYDON CARSE IN AUSTRALIA FOR THE FIRST TIME

Fast bowler Brydon Carse, another Durham cricketer, will be on his maiden tour of Australia. The 30-year-old has been impressive with 36 wickets in only nine Tests. Durham are lucky to have four players, all seamers, selected for the Ashes, Stokes, Carse, Mark Wood, and Matthew Potts.

"We might be one of the smaller counties, but we’re proud to contribute to England’s bowling attack in the Ashes. Carse has had his share of ups and downs, but the length he bowls is pure Test-match quality. He bowls fast, and he keeps running in all day. The other part of Carse is that his batting is so good. He bats No. 7 for Durham and has scored centuries. Stokes rates Carse very highly. I do not doubt that he will play at least three, if not four of the Tests against Australia," reasoned Campbell, who has been talking to Carse, Wood, and Potts about bowling in Perth and Brisbane.

"I have particularly spoken to them about the length of the first Test match at Perth. Everyone hears so much about the bounce in Perth that they think running in and bowling short will make the ball fly through to the wicket. But it is important to bowl fuller than you think. You have to bring your slips into play," he added.

Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), and Jofra Archer (Sussex) are the other pacers in their squad. England has not won the Ashes in Australia since 2010-11, and this is their best chance to change the script.