Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne said a return to basics has fueled his red-hot form in the buildup to the Ashes after losing confidence during a failed pursuit of perfection.

Labuschagne was dropped for Australia's tour of West Indies but has shrugged off the setback with four centuries in five matches for his home state Queensland.

The 31-year-old said he had been battling some "mental" demons over the last couple of years, admitting he was tinkering with his technique too much.

"There's a few technical things that I've ironed out of my game and had a bit of time to work on," he told Australian broadcaster Fox Sports.

"(I was) getting too deep into my technique and trying to be too perfect instead of just playing with what I've got - just going out there, reading the game and then using my technique to adjust to whatever they're bowling and how they're trying to attack me.

"It doesn't matter how good you are or how many runs you've scored, when you don't score runs for a while, those doubts creep in."

Labuschagne was omitted from Australia's initial squad for the one-day international series against India but earned a recall following an injury setback to allrounder Cameron Green.

Local cricket pundits have debated where the South Africa-born Queenslander should bat in the order, whether reclaiming the No 3 slot or being promoted to open with Usman Khawaja for the Ashes, which starts on November 21 in Perth.

Labuschagne was not looking too far ahead.

"(The runs) are probably a nice reminder for yourself after struggling for a couple of years that you've still got it," he said.

"I always just kept telling myself if I'm playing at my best, (selection) takes care of itself."

England fast bowler Mark Wood is "quietly confident" he will be fit for the Ashes opener against Australia next month after being sidelined since February due to a knee injury.

The 35-year-old underwent surgery in March and was ruled out for the summer but was included in England's 16-man Ashes squad named last month.

Wood was one of England's standout bowlers in the 2021-22 Ashes, claiming 17 wickets. England last won the Ashes in 2015, while their last series victory in Australia coming in 2011.

"It was a frustrating summer," Wood told the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast. "I didn't get to play any cricket and my knee, at times when you think that you're just about ready to play, it was not just quite there.

"I got knocked back a couple of times, but in the tent it's been going well. I've had the speed gun out and the pace is getting up there ...

"Hopefully, I'm in form, bowling well in the practice games and in the nets, and can put my hand up for that game (Ashes opener).

"I never want to give an answer where I say, 'Yes, I'm pumped, I'm ready'. But I'm in a confident place at the minute and feeling a lot more positive, so I'm quietly confident."

The five-match Ashes begins in Perth on November 21.

Major doubts over Pat Cummins' fitness and a void at the top of the Australian order has sparked bravado from England six weeks out from the Ashes but David Warner, at least, is having none of it.

Former fast bowler Stuart Broad lit the fuse this week by claiming England's oldest rivals have their weakest side in 15 years.

"It's probably the worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won (in Australia), and it's the best English team since 2010," Broad, now working as a pundit, told the BBC.

"It's actually not an opinion, it's fact."

His provocative comments came on the back of opener Zak Crawley claiming the term Bazball "winds" Australia up and Joe Root suggesting the five-test series was the best chance to snap his record of never blasting a century Down Under.

England are bringing a powerful squad with a cartel of dangerous quicks spearheaded by Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, while Root, Crawley and Harry Brook lead a batting line-up with plenty of depth.

But the reality for Ben Stokes's men is they have an appalling record in Australia and the taunts will mean little when hostilities begin on November 21 at the first test in Perth.

England have not won the Ashes in Australia since 2010/11, when Broad was part of a squad that triumphed 3-1. The last three trips have yielded one-sided scorelines of 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0.

Retired Australian opener Warner this week predicted another Australia rout, with only the weather preventing a 5-0 whitewash.

"I think 4-0, there's going to be a washout somewhere, generally Sydney," he told reporters, although Warner tempered his confidence amid worries about skipper Cummins.

"I think it's going to be a great series, depending on the captain, if the captain doesn't play I think they might win one game."

OPENING VOID

Pace spearhead Cummins has not played since a back injury against the West Indies in July and the clock is ticking.

He admits it is "probably less likely than likely" that he will play in Perth, with concerns that his absence could drag on even longer.

Should he miss the first test, Scott Boland will almost certainly step in and lead the attack with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, while Steve Smith would be skipper.

Who fills the role as back-up paceman remains to be seen, although coach Andrew McDonald recently nominated Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser and Sean Abbott as candidates.

"I feel like we've got some good options if we do get stretched, which is one of the great things of domestic cricket in Australia," he said of the bowling stocks.

Of more pressing concern is who will open alongside Usman Khawaja, with no-one stepping up to fill Warner's shoes since he retired nearly two years ago.

Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped ahead of Australia's recent test campaign in the West Indies, has started his build-up with three hundreds in four matches for Queensland.

But Warner feels he is better suited at three, a position he occupied until being promoted to opener for June's losing World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's.

"When someone’s averaging 50 in test cricket you've probably got to go back to that," said Warner. "I wouldn’t like to see him open," he added. "I'd like him to shuffle back down to three."

Allrounder Cameron Green most recently batted at first drop and would have to shift back to six in place of Beau Webster if Labuschagne is picked for the role.

That still leaves a chasm at the top with young gun Sam Konstas and the more experienced Matt Renshaw seen as leading the race.

Former captain Greg Chappell said Renshaw – Khawaja's opening partner at Queensland – was a safer bet.

"The two are domestic opening partners and the established synergy between them is of the sort that has historically been a hallmark of the best Ashes opening pairs," he wrote for the website cricinfo.

"This weighs heavily in Renshaw's favour."

England bowling great Stuart Broad says Australia has their "worst" team since 2010 as a war of words intensifies ahead of the Ashes series.

The retired paceman was responding to the prediction of former Australia batter David Warner that the visitors would lose the five-match test series, which starts next month, 4-0.

England, now led by allrounder Ben Stokes, have not won the Ashes in Australia since 2010/11, when Broad was part of a squad that triumphed 3-1.

Since then they have a shocking record Down Under, losing 13 and drawing two of their tests against their oldest rivals.

"It's very, very difficult to win in Australia as an England side, or any side – it just is," Broad told the BBC podcast For the Love of Cricket.

"Australia have to be massive favourites. The question really was 'Which team's under the most pressure?' Well, Australia are under the most pressure because they're expected to win. They're brilliant at home.

"But they've got question marks over their team and question marks over (the fitness of) captain (Pat Cummins)."

The skipper said on Monday he was "probably less likely than likely" to be fit for the first Ashes test, which starts in Perth on 21 November, but was still clinging to a shred of hope.

Cummins, 32, has not played since picking up a lower back injury in a test against the West Indies in July.

There are concerns over how Australia's ageing seam attack will negotiate a packed Ashes schedule of five tests in seven weeks as well as the team's batting frailties.

"Australia have been so consistent for a long period of time that you just knew who was going to open the batting, who was going to bat where, what bowlers there were – and they don't have that," said Broad, who retired in 2023.

"It's very much a similar situation to 2010/2011 when England went and won there."

He added: "You wouldn't be outlandish in thinking - it's actually not an opinion, it's a fact – it's probably the worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won, and it's the best English team since 2010.

"So those things match up to the fact it's going to be a brilliant Ashes series."

Injured Australia captain Pat Cummins said Monday that he was "probably less likely than likely" to be fit for the first Ashes test next month, but was still clinging to a shred of hope.

Pace spearhead Cummins has not played since picking up a lower back injury in a test match against the West Indies in July.

Cummins admitted time was running out to get his body ready for the opening Ashes test beginning in Perth on 21 November.

"I'd say probably less likely than likely, but still got a bit of time," Cummins told reporters, adding that he felt a "bit stiff".

Cummins said he was still two weeks away from bowling again in the nets and then it would take time to rebuild his fitness to a level where he could play a full part in a test.

"You want at least a month in the nets, getting used to it," said Cummins.

"If you're going to play a test match you want to make sure you're right to bowl 20 overs a day and you don't have to really think about it.

"I know I'm running today and running every second day, and each run is a bit longer, and then we get into bowling prep next week.

"Probably a couple of weeks to go before I'm putting on the spikes and bowling out on turf."

Australia coach Andrew McDonald said last week he was still considering whether to include Cummins in the side, even if he was a "little bit underdone" with his rehabilitation.

Australia retained the Ashes in England in 2023 after the series ended in a 2-2 draw.

They beat England 4-0 at home in 2021-22 when Cummins was the leading bowler with 21 wickets at an average of 18.

Australia is in a "tight" race to get injured captain Pat Cummins ready for the first Ashes test in November, coach Andrew McDonald admitted Friday, while insisting he was "still optimistic".

Pace spearhead Cummins has not played since picking up a lower back injury in a test against the West Indies in July.

McDonald said there was "a lot more positivity" surrounding the skipper's chances of playing in the opening test match in Perth starting November 21.

"But the reality is, we're starting to get tight in terms of the times," McDonald said.

"We're still optimistic, hopeful, but this time next week, I think we'll be in a position to get a better gauge on where he's at."

Cummins would need at least "four, four-and-a-half weeks" of bowling practice to condition his body for the rigours of Ashes cricket, McDonald said.

"One of the benefits with Patty is that he has had the ability to prepare for test matches off shortened preparations.

"So if it was to be shrunken down, we'd be very confident that he would still be able to perform in the first test."

McDonald said he would weigh up whether Cummins could be included in the side even if he was a "little bit underdone".

Australia retained the Ashes in England in 2023 after the series ended in a 2-2 draw.

They enjoyed a 4-0 sweep of England at home in 2021-22.

Cummins was the leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps at an average of 18.

With the prospect of captain Pat Cummins being fit for the Ashes receding by the day, Australia's hopes of retaining the urn may rest on managing one of the biggest shake-ups to their leadership and bowling against England in years.

A back stress injury has cast doubt on Cummins participating in the series starting on November 21 in Perth, with the paceman yet to resume bowling in his rehabilitation period.

Losing Cummins for Perth alone would require a major shift in the Australian mindset, given the 32-year-old has been ever-present since making his Ashes debut in 2017/18.

Cummins has played every series-opener and across four Ashes campaigns missed only one match, when ruled out of the 2021 Adelaide test for eating at the same restaurant as a person who tested positive for Covid-19.

That durability has seen him claim 91 English wickets at an average of 24.10, leading his regular pace colleagues Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

With Cummins fit and firing, Australia have never lost the urn since reclaiming it in 2017.

Little wonder that the prospect of Cummins being absent from the upcoming series has raised English hopes.

"Should he be missing in Perth, it would unquestionably be bad for the series and bad for Australia, but give a huge lift to an England team looking to win their first test - never mind series - in the country for more than a decade," former England captain Michael Atherton wrote in The Times.

While Scott Boland is likely to be first in line to replace Cummins in the pace bowling unit, Cummins' absence will put the spotlight on how 35-year-old Starc and 34-year-old Hazlewood are managed throughout the five-test series.

Starc slogged through five tests against India in the last home summer but Hazlewood has not managed a full Ashes series since 2017/18 due to injuries.

Fast-bowling allrounder Cameron Green will be under pressure to ease the workload of the front-line quicks but may also need to be managed carefully as he works his way back into bowling after spinal surgery.

Vice-captain Steve Smith is in line to take the captaincy if Cummins is unfit, having stepped in for the regular skipper during the two-test series against Sri Lanka.

Though Smith was a fulltime captain prior to the Newlands ball-tampering scandal in 2018, it will be another paradigm shift for a team that has grown accustomed to Cummins' calm leadership during their rise to the summit of test cricket.

Cummins said last week his latest scan on his back showed the injury was lingering and he would need to be careful.

Cricket Australia said no decisions have been made on his availability for the Ashes.

Starc on Thursday said he was unaware of the latest news on the injury but said Cummins would be able to get back up to speed quickly once cleared to resume bowling.

"I found one thing playing with Pat and being close with Pat, he doesn't need much (time)," he said.

"He just knows when to switch on or how to switch on really quickly."

Australia captain Pat Cummins has not resumed bowling after suffering a back injury and will miss the opening Ashes tests against England in Perth in late November, multiple local media outlets reported on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old fast bowler is recovering from a lower back stress injury that has troubled him since Australia's tour of the West Indies earlier this year.

The Sydney Morning Herald, citing sources, reported that back scans last week revealed the injury had not yet healed, ruling Cummins out of the Perth clash and putting in doubt his participation in all five tests in the blockbuster series. Cricket Australia said they had no update on Cummins' fitness.

If Cummins is not fit to play in Perth from November 21, former skipper Steve Smith is likely to captain the team with Scott Boland joining the pace attack.

Jacob Bethell has all the makings of a "generational talent" but Ollie Pope remains in possession of England's No 3 spot, team director Rob Key said ahead of the Ashes series in Australia.

Bethell, who turns 22 this month, became the youngest player to captain an England men's team during their Twenty20 series against Ireland in September.

Named in England's 16-man list for the five-test series in Australia, he has also been talked about as a replacement at No 3 for Pope, who has struggled for consistency and was replaced as vice-captain by Harry Brook.

"He (Bethell) becomes someone you're looking at in the far future, as potential leadership. Leaders aren't just your captain," Key said in an episode of the 'For The Love Of Cricket' podcast released on Tuesday.

"He's a really important part. He's a conduit between (Ben) Stokes and the younger generation coming through, so he can start developing in that.

"There's a lot made about him and Pope. That's going to be the story.

"At the moment, Pope is the one that's in possession of that (No 3). There's a bit of cricket for Bethel to come... He looks just one of those players that could be a generational talent, Bethel, in all formats."

Key said the left-hander had all the attributes required to be successful in the sport.

"When you watch him, he's got time. He plays well off the back foot," he added. "If you're just off, he can really put you under pressure. He's one of those players that passes the 40-second test, where you think, 'wow, this kid could be amazing.'"

The Ashes begin in Perth on 21 November.

Nathan Lyon warned England on Wednesday that they would be making a mistake if they do not play a spinner during the Ashes, with the veteran Australian sure the wickets will offer variation.

England last week unveiled a pace-heavy attack for the five-test series that gets under way in Perth on 21 November, spearheaded by five quicks.

They include Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse and Mark Wood, with captain Ben Stokes and seamer Matthew Potts offering support

Only one specialist spinner, Shoaib Bashir, was named in the 16-man squad, with allrounder Will Jacks his only back-up.

Despite the first two tests at Perth and Brisbane being traditionally bouncy wickets, off-spin great Lyon said Bashir should be involved.

"For me, you're picking a spinner in every side because the variation changes the tempo of the game," said Lyon, a veteran of 139 tests and a staple of Australia's side since 2011.

"I think a spinner can play a very effective role out here if their skill set suits.

"To be honest, (England's squad) is all pretty much what we expected. The whole squad is very attacking with fast bowlers."

Whether England opt for an all-pace attack in Perth remains to be seen, but selectors will be conscious that their spinners have frequently struggled in Australian conditions.

Lyon, in contrast, thrives on home soil, where he has bagged 268 of his 562 test wickets at an average of 31.08.

"I grew up here, I understand and built my craft around playing on wickets that don't spin," said Lyon, who will begin his Ashes preparations by captaining New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield this weekend.

"I've had to find a way to firstly survive but also create chances and build pressure along the way. It's something I thoroughly enjoyed doing and I'll keep doing that."

England are bidding to win the Ashes for the first time since 2015. They have not won a test series in Australia since 2010/11.

England managing director Rob Key has urged the tourists not to "get caught doing stupid things" on their Ashes tour of Australia.

Ben Stokes' side will lock horns with Australia over five tests, starting in Perth on November 21, bidding to win the Ashes for the first time since 2015.

England's players and coaching staff will be braced for a hostile reception from partisan Australian fans.

Having been part of an Ashes tour in 2002/03, former England batsman Key knows from experience how the pressure can lead to rash mistakes on and off the pitch.

"They have got to be smart, right?" Key, managing director for men's cricket, said on the For The Love Of Cricket podcast.

"I hope they are all listening to this, players, because it saves me sending a WhatsApp or an email and telling them, 'You have got to be smart', because when they get there they are not going to be anonymous."

England's Jonny Bairstow was accused of head-butting Australia's Cameron Bancroft in a bar in Perth during the 2017/18 Ashes tour.

At the same venue, Ben Duckett, then of the England Lions, earned headlines by pouring a drink over England bowler James Anderson.

Key is also keen to ensure England have the right attitude on the pitch at all times.

"I remember in 2002, Nasser Hussain doing the first press conference saying, 'We have got to catch all our catches, we can't afford to be having to make 15, 20 opportunities an innings', which is absolutely right.

"The next day at practice, the West Australian newspaper had pictures of John Crawley dropping a catch.

"Our players need to be smart and not get caught doing stupid things and just be aware that this is going to potentially be one of the best series of all time.

"It is going to be compelling viewing and with that comes an interest that is great for the game."

Australia retained the Ashes after drawing 2-2 with England in 2023.

England have not won an Ashes series in Australia since 2010/11, losing 13 and drawing two of the tests Down Under since then.

Ben Stokes was named as England captain for the Ashes tour as the squad was announced on Tuesday for five tests in Australia.

Allrounder Stokes missed the final test against India at The Oval, which started on July 31, with a shoulder injury.

But England chiefs said he "remains on track to be available for the start of the test series" against arch rivals Australia, which starts in November.

Harry Brook has been confirmed as England's vice-captain, replacing Ollie Pope, who is in the 16-man squad as a batter.

Durham fast bowler Mark Wood returns after his recovery from a left knee injury, while Somerset spinner Shoaib Bashir is available again following a finger injury.

Durham seamer Matthew Potts and Surrey batting allrounder Will Jacks are both included.

Potts last featured in December 2024 against New Zealand, while Jacks won his most recent test cap in December 2022 against Pakistan.

England drew 2-2 with Australia on home turf in the most recent Ashes series, in 2023, but have not won Down Under since 2010/2011.

The first test starts in Perth on November 21, with further matches in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

England also named squads for a white-ball tour of New Zealand before the Ashes, including three T20s and three one-day internationals.

ENGLAND ASHES SQUAD

Ben Stokes (capt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wkt), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood

Australia skipper Pat Cummins said Friday he hoped to play in all five Ashes tests against England but conceded he will need to see how his back injury holds up, local media said.

Pace spearhead Cummins has been ruled out of the October white-ball series against New Zealand and India with "lumbar bone stress".

The 32-year-old has not bowled since the test tour of the West Indies in June-July and no firm date has been set for his return.

Cummins said Friday although he hopes to be part of the Ashes, he would need to "wait and see".

"There are no hard and fast plans yet," the skipper told reporters.

"I'm still doing a bit of gym and keeping things kicking over, but with this kind of injury, it's rest and then we'll build back and kind of work back from the Ashes," he said.

"Still really hopeful to be able to be part of the Ashes. But it is a little bit of a wait and see."

Cummins told reporters he aimed to play in all five tests, but conceded a decision would have to be made closer to the time.

"It's honestly too far out to say. But the aim at the moment is to try and be ready for all of it," he said.

Cummins has suffered serious back issues several times over the years, including a flare-up in 2018 that kept him out of action for a full off-season.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald said this week he was confident Cummings would play a key part in the Ashes.

But he acknowledged to SEN radio that the uncertainty around Cummins "is not ideal", but it was an "overreaction" to say the skipper would not play.

"It's not ideal. I'm not going to sit here and say that it's ideal," McDonald told the radio station.

The first Ashes test against England in Perth starts on 21 November.

Australia retained the Ashes in England in 2023 after the series ended in a 2-2 draw.

They enjoyed a 4-0 sweep of England at home in 2021-22. Cummins was the leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps at an average of 18.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald is confident that skipper Pat Cummins will play "a key part" in the Ashes despite a back injury.

Pace spearhead Cummins has been ruled out of the October white-ball series against New Zealand and India with "lumbar bone stress".

The 32-year-old has not bowled since the test tour of the West Indies in June-July and no firm date has been set for his return.

The first Ashes test against England in Perth starts on November 21 and McDonald struck a confident tone in an interview aired Wednesday.

McDonald acknowledged to SEN radio that the uncertainty around Cummins "is not ideal", but added: "We're confident that he's going to partake in the Ashes.

"I think to sensationalise that he's not (going to play) would be an overreaction.

"It's not ideal. I'm not going to sit here and say that it's ideal."

But he added: "We've got time. If it happened any closer (to the series), then you'd have to be making sort of key decisions around what it all looks like.

"But we have got time... we're really, really hopeful that he will play a key part in the Ashes."

Earlier this month Cummins said he was "willing to take a few risks" to fast-track his recovery.

Cummins has suffered serious back issues several times over the years, including a flare-up in 2018 that kept him out action for a full off-season.

McDonald did not commit to Cummins playing all five Ashes tests but said: "We look forward to our captain taking a significant part in the Ashes."

Australia retained the Ashes in England in 2023 after the series ended in a 2-2 draw.

They enjoyed a 4-0 sweep of England at home in 2021-22. Cummins was the leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps at an average of 18.

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald is confident injured captain Pat Cummins will be fit to play a major role in the Ashes even if he does not feature in all five matches of the series.

The fast bowler is recovering from a lower back injury that has troubled him since Australia's tour of the West Indies earlier this year.

"We have got time. If it happened any closer (to the Ashes) then you would have to be making key decisions around what it all looks like," McDonald told Australian radio station SEN.

"But we have got time, a lot more information to come, and as I said, we're really hopeful that he will take a key part in the Ashes."

Cummins will not feature in Australia's white-ball series against New Zealand and India in October.

McDonald said staff had not worked out a timeline for Cummins' return to international cricket and did not bank on him or his pace teammates playing five tests against England.

"From the get-go, we never really planned for five test matches for most of our fast bowlers," he said.

"Over the last couple of years we have been lucky with shortened games early in the summer, to be able to deliver five test matches (for a fast bowler)," he said. "We will see what that looks like for Pat."

The Ashes start in Perth on 21 November.

Australia opener Sam Konstas overcame "mental demons" in a counter-attacking century for Australia A in Lucknow as the 19-year-old boosted his case for retention in the test side for the Ashes.

The 19-year-old made 109 off 144 balls against India A to help his side reach 337 for five at stumps.

Konstas was glad to be back in the runs after a lean tour of the West Indies earlier this year.

"I felt I had to face quite a few demons mentally, and I just had to get through that. Super stoked and hopefully I can build on that," he said.

The Australia A tour of India may be more aimed at long-term planning for the 2027 test series there but Konstas's knock is unlikely to go unnoticed by selectors with the first Ashes test in Perth two months away.

Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney, who opened for the test side against India last summer before being replaced by Konstas, was out lbw for one batting at No 3.

England coach Brendon McCullum has left open the possibility of Harry Brook replacing Ollie Pope as vice-captain during the upcoming Ashes tour of Australia.

Pope officially took on the role in May 2023 after securing his place as England's No 3 in test cricket, and has since led the team five times when inspirational skipper Ben Stokes has been absent through injury.

Stokes is back training following a shoulder problem but his coach at county side Durham, Ryan Campbell, was "not 100 per cent sure" the allrounder would feature in all five tests against Australia, with England bidding for their first Ashes series win since 2015.

Doubts have been raised about Pope's tactical acumen, with England white-ball captain Brook regarded as a more proactive leader in the field.

And should Stokes be ruled out of a test during the Ashes series, which starts on November 21 in Perth, the 26-year-old Brook could now be asked to lead England in red-ball cricket as well.

McCullum, asked Sunday whether Pope will take up his usual role as Stokes' deputy in Australia, replied: "We will work on that one. We will chat about that over the coming days as we finalise our Ashes squad.

"I think it's a pretty easy squad to pick. We don't need too big a squad but we have a very settled group of batters, a cartel of fast bowlers and Shoaib Bashir as our frontline spinner."

The former New Zealand captain, speaking after England's third and deciding T20 against South Africa in Nottingham was washed out without a ball being bowled, added: "I think it's no secret Harry Brook is emerging as a leader within English cricket, so that's something we need to work out."

 England test captain Ben Stokes has resumed training and fast bowler Mark Wood is in line to return to action next week in a major boost to England's preparations for the Ashes series in Australia later this year.

Stokes missed the fifth and final test against India at The Oval having hurt his shoulder in the previous match at Old Trafford in July.

Durham head coach Ryan Campbell said the 34-year-old had started batting in the nets and that he had no doubts about the allrounder's availability for the Ashes series beginning in Perth on 21 November.

"Over the last week, he's started to hit balls and had a really good session," Campbell told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The batting side of things is going very well but the bowling will take a lot longer. He is being treated very steadily."

Campbell said Stokes must play all five tests in Australia if England are to reclaim the Ashes urn.

"The guy is so good because he makes your batting line-up deep and is a genuine force as a third or fourth seamer," he said. "He is going to bowl so many overs and can get you wickets."

Wood, who has not played since February, was on the verge of returning to competitive action following knee surgery, Campbell added.

"I've got my fingers crossed that Wood plays for us next week," Campbell said. "If that happens, it's not only great for Durham but also for England. He is extremely close to playing."

England batter Jacob Bethell is unsure if his first hundred in international cricket in Sunday's one-dayer against South Africa has opened the door to the Ashes squad but the 21-year-old is confident he would not let anyone down if given the opportunity.

The left-handed batter struck a belligerent 110 as England pummelled South Africa by a record 342 runs in the third and final one-dayer in Southampton.

Bethell, who turns 22 next month, is expected to be included in the squad for the five-test series in Australia, though Ollie Pope remains first choice at No 3 despite the England vice-captain's inconsistent recent form.

"I don't know if these runs mean anything but I don't think they can hurt," Bethell said of his Southampton century.

"If the opportunity arises, I'll hopefully be there to take it."

It was Bethell's second successive 50-plus score in the series and the Warwickshire player is determined to keep putting up the big numbers.

"It was a bit of a blur to be honest, but it was a great feeling ... It was unbelievable," he added. "It feels like an addictive feeling, so hopefully there's a few more of them to come."

Fellow centurion Joe Root was full of praise for a player he has watched for a long time.

"He's very clear on how he wants to play his cricket," he said. "I've known him for a long time - since he was eight years old - so for him to play an innings like that and get us in that position at the halfway stage was fantastic."

The Ashes series begins in Perth on 21 November.

Marnus Labuschagne has gone "back to the drawing board" in a bid to regain his Australia spot for the Ashes, boosted by knowing he was once the top batsman in the world.

The long-time No 3 in Australia's batting order was dropped from the test tour of the West Indies in June/July after a sustained lean spell.

The 58-test veteran, known for endlessly tinkering with his technique, said it had been an opportunity to "step back mentally" and reassess his approach.

"There's an analogy -– you can try and bash yourself through the wall or you can just open the door and walk in," he told cricket.com.au. "(That means) train smarter.

"My technique over time hasn't been where I wanted it to be and probably there's been a little bit too much time and focus going into trying to get that right, rather than just playing with what I've got.

"But it's been a nice time to reset, be able to recalibrate and go, 'Okay I missed that West Indies series, how am I going to get myself ready to play the Ashes?'"

Labuschagne was moved from his regular spot at three to open in the World Test Championship final against South Africa in June, where he scored 17 and 22 in defeat.

But with his replacement, teenager Sam Konstas, struggling at the top of the order, he could be an option to open again alongside Usman Khawaja in the first test against England on 21 November in Perth.

The 31-year-old could also start at three if allrounder Cameron Green moves down the order.

Labuschagne has had several stints at the top of the ICC batting rankings and said it was comforting knowing he was once the world's best.

"The benefit is you know you've done it before, right?," he said.

"Two years ago I was one of the best batters in the world. You know that it's there and you know you've just got to go back to the (drawing) board and find that consistency, that mental clarity, to go out there and perform."