Ben Stokes returns to training after shoulder injury as Durham coach gives Ashes update

England captain Ben Stokes has returned to training after sustaining a shoulder injury in July and has begun batting in the nets as he steps up his recovery ahead of the Australian Ashes, Durham head coach Ryan Campbell said.

Stokes, 34, missed the fifth Test against India at The Oval after suffering the problem during the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford. He had been expected to be sidelined for about six to seven weeks but has now started to hit with Durham, with the batting side of his rehabilitation described as progressing well.

"Stokes is back in training," Campbell told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Over the last week, he's started to hit balls and had a really good session. Scott Borthwick was throwing to him with [coach] Will Gidman for nearly two hours. The batting side of things is going very well but the bowling will take a lot longer. He is being treated very steadily."

Campbell, a former Australian wicketkeeper who is Durham's head coach, also offered an update on England fast bowler Mark Wood. Wood, 35, has not played since February following a knee injury sustained at the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and has undergone surgery. He had hoped to return for the fifth Test against India but suffered a setback and was subsequently omitted from England's white-ball squads for matches against South Africa and Ireland.

"I've got my fingers crossed that Wood plays for us next week," Campbell said. "If that happens, it's not only great for Durham but also for England. He is extremely close to playing." The coach added that Wood's participation for Durham would be a positive sign for his availability to England selectors.

Campbell stressed Stokes' importance to England's fortunes in Australia, saying the side's chances in the Ashes would be significantly reduced without him. "England can only win the Ashes if Stokes plays all five Tests and does well," Campbell said, while stopping short of guaranteeing Stokes would manage that workload. "The guy is so good because he makes your batting line-up deep and is a genuine force as a third or fourth seamer. He is going to bowl so many overs and can get you wickets."

The coach praised Stokes' work ethic, comparing him to some of the hardest-working players Campbell encountered in Australian cricket. "He is the most hard-working cricketer I have seen," Campbell said. "The way he goes about his work to recover just blows me away. It's why he is one of the greatest all-rounders that's ever been and it's why he will be ready for Australia. He will leave no stones unturned, but can he play five Tests in a row with the workload he has? He will try, but I am not 100% sure."

England and Australia will begin the five-Test Ashes series in Perth on 21 November. The outcome could hinge on the fitness of key all-rounders and fast bowlers, with team managements monitoring workloads ahead of the southern hemisphere summer. England drew the last Ashes series at home in 2023, finishing 2-2.

Durham will use forthcoming county fixtures to assess both players' match readiness, with selection decisions for the Ashes likely to follow evaluations of their fitness and ability to sustain international workloads across five Tests in Australia.