Australia spinner Nathan Lyon ‘expects’ Ben Stokes to return for Ashes as he labels England man the ‘best all-rounder in the world’

Australia’s Nathan Lyon is expecting Ben Stokes to return for England for December’s Ashes series.

The all-rounder took an extended break from the game in July, citing his mental wellbeing and the need to fully recover from a fractured left index finger.

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He was absent from the summer’s marquee Test series against India and will also miss the forthcoming Twenty20 World Cup to focus on his mental health.

However, earlier this month he gave fans hope he could return for the December series by posting a video of himself back in the nets.

England have made it clear that they will not put any pressure on him to return to action, with head coach Chris Silverwood saying the ball is in Stokes’ court regarding any comeback.

He was absent from the main Ashes squad and the supporting Lions group but a series of social media posts in recent days have detailed his enthusiastic return to training, raising expectations among fans that he could be preparing to re-enter the fray this winter.

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And Lyon, who was one of the Australia bowlers taken apart by Stokes during his unforgettable match-winning innings at Headingley two years ago, has also been paying attention.

“I’m expecting him to come,” Lyon told Cricket.com.au.

“I hope he is. You want to play against the best players in the world. Stokesy is the best all-rounder in the world. He’s an X-factor, a game changer, and you want to play against these sort of players.”