England star in race for Ashes fitness after more surgery

England all-rounder Ben Stokes is in a race against time to be fit for the Ashes after undergoing a second operation on his finger this week.

While Stokes appears to be a long shot at being available for England’s five-Test tour of Australia, amid a break from the game due to injury and mental health, the 2019 ICC cricketer of the year is yet to be ruled out officially.

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During Stokes’ second operation, which he injured in the Indian Premier League in April, he had scar tissue and two screws removed from the index finger of his left hand, the ECB confirmed in a statement.

The 30-year-old is now working through a four-week block of intensive rehabilitation.

Fears of an Ashes boycott were extinguished when England captain Joe Root confirmed that he would board the flight to Australia, according to UK publication The Telegraph.

Root reportedly committed to the Ashes after having a second video link-up with Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley, in which all queries regarding quarantine were clarified.

England will strive to regain the Ashes urn this summer, after losing the 2017-18 series in Australia and the 2019 series at home.

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