Ben Stokes is not in England’s Ashes squad, nor in the Lions party which is also travelling to Australia to provide warm-up opposition and tour cover.
Nonetheless, England fans are dreaming of the all-rounder making a shock Ashes return after he posted pictures on social media of himself gripping a bat properly for the first time since April.
Stokes is on an indefinite break from the game as he priorities his mental wellbeing, but he has also been rehabilitating from a badly-fractured left index finger.
He suffered the injury on Indian Premier League duty for Rajasthan Royals and, although he made tentative comeback appearances during the English summer – even answering an emergency SOS to captain in a coronavirus-threatened ODI series against Pakistan – he was still suffering major discomfort.
Now he has posted photos of the bandaged digit wrapped around a handle, with a caption suggesting it was the first time he has been able to do so since the initial break.
The message went on Instagram and Twitter, with Stokes adding “Ohhh aye lad” by way of comment.
The 30-year-old missed the India Test series at home, will not feature in the T20 World Cup later this month and was also considered unavailable for the Ashes squad which was announced on Sunday.
Head coach Chris Silverwood was keen to take a hands-off approach to Stokes’ eventual return, but it is not impossible that England could allow him to join the Australia series as a late arrival, should he feel he is in the right physical and mental shape to do so.
Speaking at the squad announcement about Stokes, Silverwood said: “Ben is moving forward, the communications I have had with him he is definitely more upbeat.
“But what I will say is there will be no pressure from me for him to rush back. I’ve said ‘when you’re ready you call me and we’ll make a plan from there’. So there’s no pressure from me and no date on it.
“I’m not going to tell him when he comes back. I’ll be led by him and my concern first and foremost is his wellbeing.”
Fans reacted with glee and hope to Stokes’ post.
Ian
Roar Rookie
Leave Jacques Kallis alone !
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
Aren’t all players ‘all or nothing’? They either succeed on a given day or they don’t.
Kalva
Roar Rookie
I would agree that Stokes is better than Botham in one respect- Stokes has performed superbly repeatedly against the best teams of his era and in different matches while Botham's best performances came against average to mediocre opposition and his performances against the best 2 teams of his era- WI and Pakistan in the 1980s were very poor. I am not referring to averages but more to overall effect...like I said, he just seems an all-or-nothing player. Kallis was a genuinely great batsman who was selfish at times but still a great..his bowling was almost an after-thought for the last half of his career.
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
Well Sobers is arguably one of the top five cricketers of all time so it’s fair to say that Stokes doesn’t stack up against him. The 80’s all rounders were also greats although Botham who idolised as a player and also someone not known for his false modesty has said that Stokes is better than he was (I don’t actually agree with that per se) so that’s quite an endorsement for Stokes. Kallis is a funny one really, he is an all time great as his stats will tell you and yet as I mentioned above, he was renowned for playing his way no matter the situation of the game and South Africa certainly snatched draws from the mouths of victory on a number of occasions due in no small part to Kallis and his batting. So Kallis is in the history books and Stokes might not be but Kallis would be both unable and more importantly unwilling to play some of the innings that Stokes has. As I also said above, averages don’t always tell the whole story.
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
I’m not suggesting that averages aren’t important just that they don’t always tell the whole story. Neither Stokes or Flintoff have played for their averages, they will sacrifice themselves for the team goal be that score quick runs or bowl long spells on flat pitches, neither of which tend to help ones averages. I can think of an all time great all rounder who was renowned for batting for himself and not the team.
Kalva
Roar Rookie
Thing about Stokes though is that he seems an all-or-nothing sort of player. He will play the most amazing innings in a series and yet barely cross 20 the rest of the time...the 2019 Ashes was an aberration in that he scored 2 tons but I don't recall him doing much the rest of the time(maybe he did). Or he will bowl 15 overs on the trot and take a 3 or 4fer and barely bowl 5 overs in the other innings. You could say he's a match winner but somehow he doesn't seem at the same level as the great all rounders of the 1980s or Sobers or Kallis who were far more consistent. Again, I am open to another viewpoint.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Flintoff - very occasionally. Stokes a bit more. He has had a couple of outstanding innings. But averages tell you something either about the frequency of high scores or low scores. He’s become a good middle order batsman and a fine fifth bowler.
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
Most countries are keen to find an all rounder, England are far from alone in that endeavour. I wouldn’t label Stokes or Flintoff before him ‘bits and pieces’ players. Stokes would get in the England team for his batting alone and Flintoff would have got in the England team if he only bowled. Whilst most cricket fans obsess over averages both Stokes and Flintoff are/were so much more than their respective averages. They are match winners.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Agree Ian, it was particularly noticeable in the post-Botham era. Though there’s no question Stokes is a Test quality batsman and has been trending upwards. Hasn’t quite been superstar on a consistent basis, but more than very useful. Bowling definitely good enough to give England flexibility to bowl spinners occasionally.
Ian
Roar Rookie
I've always been amazed Dave with this obsession with all rounders. In England we've been obsessed with finding the new Botham since I started watching the game. Usually, these all-rounders average less than a decent batsmen with the bat and less than a decent bowler with the ball. I know it's a novel concept, but how about just picking your 4 best bowlers and 6 best batsmen. Here in England, we're totally obsessed with bit's and pieces players who can do a bit of this, a bit of that but don't do anything well enough to make a difference to most games.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
How many regular Australian pace bowlers of the last 60 years has had an average as high as his? Answer: only one - Michael Kasprowicz, if you can call him a regular. And Stokes has bowled in a decade when English wickets have been at their most bowler friendly for 60 years.
Jak
Guest
Will it be healed enough to face thunderbolts from Cummins, Starc etc. These injuries take an age to heal properly.
Ian
Roar Rookie
It's been strange following the narrative here this morning. Barely anyone has focused on his mental health issues and just seem delighted that he can grip a bat for the first time in 6 months. It will be interesting to see which way this situation plays out.
Clear as mud
Guest
14 hundreds... from a proper test quality seam/swing bowler... if you see one out here, please let us know
Paul
Roar Guru
and even the best all rounder in the world will struggle coming back from mental health issues and zero cricket for 5 or 6 months. He may well give the team confidence, but that quickly evaporate if the doesn't perform. Agreed though, he'll certainly add some spice to the series if he plays
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
He’d be a huge plus for them no doubt. But it’s interesting to see the English talking about the return of the King, which seems a bit OTT for a guy who averages 37 batting in Tests. A bit like Botham, based on a couple of great innnings (actually Stokes’s was a lot better). Guess that’s the danger, might be enough to win one Test. Interesting to see that Stokes did quite well with the ball on his only tour here - 15 wickets in four Tests.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Doesn't matter, he's the best all rounder in the world. His inclusion will mean the weakest link in the England side will make way for him. He will also provide confidence for Root in particular and the team in general. It will make for a much better series with him playing but I still think we will win comfortably. But this is cricket and it's never over till the final ball. I hate to say it but if he plays, it could add 5% to the tour revenue. Both England and Australia should do whatever they can to get him to play.
Paul
Roar Guru
I hope he does play in the Ashes and I'm sure the Test players do too. Whether he will "smash the Aussies" is another matter entirely.