01 Apr, 2025 | 09:14 AM

England Test captain Ben Stokes will not feature in the early stages of Durham's County Championship campaign, but head coach Ryan Campbell is confident that the all-rounder will be fully fit for the international summer ahead.

Stokes, 33, has been recovering from hamstring surgery after suffering two separate tears in the past six months, including a recurrence during England's tour of New Zealand. He has not played since the injury but has ramped up his rehabilitation in recent weeks, with recent social media posts showing him bowling again.

With England's Test summer beginning on May 22 against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, followed by a five-match series against India and the Ashes in Australia later in the year, Stokes is focused on getting fit for the upcoming challenges. Stokes had initially suffered the first tear during the Hundred in 2024 and has since opted out of playing for the Northern Superchargers in August to allow for recovery following the India series.

Although Stokes has been working on his recovery at Durham's facilities, head coach Campbell does not expect him to play in any of Durham's County Championship fixtures before the Test summer begins. "At this stage, they're probably not likely to play for us," Campbell stated. "My expectation is that it'll be zero - anything else is an added bonus."

Stokes has been seen regularly at Chester-le-Street during his rehab and was spotted performing shuttle runs on the outfield during Durham’s media day. His dedication has impressed Campbell, who praised Stokes' relentless work ethic. "What we know about Stokesy is that he's here nearly every single day working his butt off. He sets the bar, wherever he is," Campbell said.

Durham will play six Division One fixtures ahead of England's first Test against Zimbabwe. If Stokes feels the need, he could use one of the later rounds to tune up, but Campbell emphasized that his primary focus remains on preparing for England's international schedule.

In addition to Stokes, Durham is also monitoring the recovery of two other key England players, Brydon Carse and Mark Wood. Carse is recovering from a toe injury sustained during the Champions Trophy, while Wood is recovering from knee surgery, which will rule him out of the Test summer. Campbell stressed that no risks would be taken with any of the players, particularly as they all play crucial roles in England’s plans for the summer.

"Brydon Carse is probably the number one priority for England right now," said Campbell, highlighting Carse's importance for the upcoming Tests. "He's born for that sort of stuff. There's 11 Tests over the summer and winter, and I think he's going to be number one on England's list to make sure that he's ready to go for that."

While Durham fans may hope for a surprise appearance from Stokes in their early matches, Campbell remains focused on the long-term goal of ensuring that all three players are fully fit and available for England's busy Test schedule.