Big Ben could clock in

ENGLAND have left the door open for Ben Stokes to join their Ashes tour when he’s ready to return to action.

- DEAN WILSON

Head coach Chris Silverwood insisted there was no pressure on Stokes to play again following a second operation on his left index finger.

But after leaving the talisman all-rounder out of yesterday’s 17-man squad to face Australia, Silverwood refused to rule out the chance of Stokes being added if he declared himself available.

“There’s no pressure,” said Silverwood, who is busy preparing for December’s first Test.