‘Next few days will be balls to the wall’ - Ben Stokes on prep and fitness ahead of the first Ashes Test

England captain Ben Stokes is confident of managing a gruelling workload during the upcoming Ashes series, having bowled with full intensity over the past two months. Stokes is set to make his return to competitive cricket in a three-day intra-squad match against the England Lions starting Thursday, urging his teammates to go all out in their only warm-up fixture before the first Test.

There had been uncertainty over Stokes’ fitness, as the all-rounder has been sidelined since late July due to a shoulder injury. However, he has been bowling at full pace during England’s training sessions at Lilac Hill in Perth, easing concerns about his readiness for the series.

"I've been bowling like that for two months now. It was nice to put the feet up but once the rehab started, I 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,” said Stokes as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Stokes was ruled out of the fifth Test against India after suffering a torn shoulder muscle, following a heavy bowling workload throughout the series. He had claimed 17 wickets in the series, delivering several long and tireless spells in a series that was eventually drawn 2-2 after the visitors clinched an emphatic win in the final match.

"[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,” the English skipper added.

Stokes will test his fitness in England’s practice match at Lilac Hill, where he is expected to feature in an XI vs XI contest. While the exact details of the game are yet to be confirmed, Stokes revealed that the entire Ashes squad will participate alongside several England Lions players.

"The next few days are balls to the wall for everyone, no easing into it and it will be a good run for everyone. We're going to be giving everyone in our squad time out in the middle. Everyone will be getting an opportunity. 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,” Stokes explained.

Archer and Wood are the X-factor: Stokes

Apart from Stokes, much of the focus will be on the fitness of fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, with England considering the possibility of playing both in tandem for the first Ashes Test on what is expected to be a fiery surface at Optus Stadium.

"It's great to have the x-factor that Jof and Woody possess in terms of pace. 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,” said the all-rounder.

Pope done a great job at No. 3: Stokes

As hinted by assistant coach Marcus Trescothick, England are likely to back incumbent Ollie Pope at No. 3, although Stokes remained non-committal on the final decision. Stokes also spoke about the Australian players’ performances in the ongoing Sheffield Shield, acknowledging the strong form of several key opponents ahead of the Ashes.

"We've been very consistent with our team selections. We know exactly what we want. Pope's done a great job for us at number three. There are nine days to go. There's a lot of things that can go right. There's a lot of things that can go wrong. We'll have a team one-two days [ahead of the first Test] as normal,” said Stokes.

"I think a couple of their players have put in some good performances out in the field for their states. But when you get out there in the field and the heat for the Ashes on that first day, you know that you're expected to go and deliver for your team. That's a completely different ball game,” he added.

The Three Lions captain has arrived in Perth cast as the villain, branded a ‘cocky captain’ on the front page of a local tabloid. Despite the headlines, he remains focused on the upcoming Ashes series, one that could prove legacy-defining for both him and his team.

"That's part of being in Australia. It's another one of those things that we're going to have to deal with. Especially for some of the guys who are here for the first time, just letting them know that's what it is going to be like. I would love to come back [to England] in January and say that I've helped the team win an Ashes in Australia. That's obviously the goal. We are very, very determined to walk away with the goal that we want,” Stokes concluded.