Ben Stokes: England captain’s return delayed by recovery from cheek injury

Stokes has not played since the end of England’s dismal Ashes defeat. He suffered an adductor injury and was severely hampered on the penultimate day of the series in Sydney.

Stokes was expected to feature alongside several England players in the early rounds of the County Championship amid competition for places in the Test XI.

He remained captain despite the 4-1 Ashes defeat, while coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key also remained in their roles.

After those decisions were confirmed this week, Stokes said the last three months had been the “most difficult period” of his England captaincy and backed the current regime to take the team forward.

“He’s been working very hard to be ready,” Campbell said.

“He’s got a lot to prove. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know the Ashes aren’t going so well and he’s a proud man who wants England to be the best team in the world.

“He is working to stay on the right track as a professional.”

Campbell also revealed that Stokes plans to play for his county in the One-Day Cup this summer.

The 50-over competition is played in conjunction with The Hundred, with counties usually playing the second placed teams.

Stokes has not played in the 50-over format since the 2023 World Cup in India and has not featured in the competition for Durham since 2014.

However, with Stokes withdrawing from The Hundred and not currently featuring in England’s white-ball teams, the One-Day Cup would provide him with some cricket in between England’s Test series.

The series against New Zealand will conclude at the end of June and the tri-Test coverage against Pakistan will begin on August 19.