Stokes,
who
has
been
given
the
all-clear
by
his
consultant
and
the
ECB
medical
team
to
resume
training
following
his
second
operation
on
a
fractured
left
index
finger,
will
depart
with
the
Test
specialists
and
the
Lions
on
November
4.

The
30-year-old
is
ready
to
return
to
competitive
cricket
following
his
break
from
the
game
at
the
end
of
July
to
prioritise
his
mental
wellbeing.

“I
had
a
break
to
prioritise
my
mental
wellbeing
and
I
got
my
finger
sorted,”
said
Stokes
in
an
official
release
issued
by
the
England
and
Wales
Cricket
Board
(ECB).

“I
am
looking
forward
to
seeing
my
mates
and
being
on
the
field
with
them.
I’m
ready
for
Australia,”
he
added.

Managing
Director
of
England
Men’s
Cricket,
Ashley
Giles,
added:
“Following
a
very
successful
operation
on
his
finger
and
several
conversations
over
the
last
few
weeks
between
Ben
and
I,
our
medical
staff
and
his
management
team,
Ben
called
me
to
say
he
was
ready
to
return
to
cricket
and
was
excited
about
the
prospect
of
playing
a
significant
role
in
the
Ashes
series.

“Time
and
time
again,
Ben
has
demonstrated
how
important
he
is
to
the
England
team
and
having
him
available
for
the
Ashes
series
is
excellent
news
for
all
of
us
and,
in
particular,
Chris
(Silverwood),
Joe
(Root)
and
the
rest
of
the
players,”
he
added.
The
Ashes
will
begin
on
December
8
at
the
Gabba,
Brisbane.