Ashes: Joe Root insists England must ‘manage expectations’ as Ben Stokes returns

Captain Joe Root expects all-rounder Ben Stokes to play a major part in the Ashes but warned on Monday that England must manage his bowling workload on his hotly anticipated return.

The 30-year-old Stokes took an indefinite break from all cricket in July to prioritise his mental well-being and rest a fractured finger.

There was doubt whether he would travel to Australia, but England’s 2019 Ashes hero was on the plane and is expected to start the first Test in Brisbane on Wednesday – handing the tourists a huge boost as they attempt to reclaim the urn.

“More than anything, it’s really good to just see Ben back involved again in the frame of things and to see him come into the limited game time that we had, and to look as good as he did as well,” said Root.

“You always know that when he gets into a game he always wants to put his mark on it and put a stamp on it. But yes, I think there will be an element of managing expectations.

“You’ve got to trust his experience and, I suppose, our whole bowling group can work collectively to take those wickets and I’m sure Ben will have a big say in that,” he added.

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