Ashes 2021-22: Ben Stokes suffers an injury to his arm ahead of the first Test

England all-rounder Ben Stokes, who returned to competitive cricket for the upcoming Ashes series, has suffered an injury to his arm. The incident occurred while he was training on November 28. The medical staff and physio addressed him. Ashley Giles, the director of England Cricket gave an update about Stokes and said he is doing fine and having a great time.

Stokes, who last played competitive cricket during the limited-overs series against Pakistan will look to make a mark in the high octane Ashes series. The 30-year-old is an impact player and can change the complexion of the game within a few overs. England skipper Joe Root understands the value he brings to the team and is happy to have him back.

Giles though has said his progress will be monitored in a steady manner. “Ben seems to be going well and it’s just great having him around. I know Joe Root will be happy having him back in the squad. We’ve still got to be steady with him, he hasn’t played a lot of cricket lately, and, going back to that prep period, it’s not ideal for anyone, but particularly the guys who haven’t had a lot of cricket under their belt. So we’ll just keep building him up,” said Ashley Giles as quoted by The Telegraph.

Giles further opined that Stokes should be handled carefully as he has just returned to competitive cricket. “I’m hopeful. We’ve just got to treat Ben carefully as we would with anyone else who has been in that position of not having a lot of cricket under their belts. He will be a difficult man to hold back if he is ready to go,” concluded Ashley Giles.

The first Ashes Test will start on December 8 in Brisbane. It remains to be seen if Stokes regains full fitness for the opener.