London, Oct 26 (TIWN) Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has said that that all-rounder Ben Stokes making himself available for selection, and his inclusion in the side for the gruelling Ashes, which begins in December, "will give everyone a lift".

Following his second operation on a fractured left index finger, Stokes has been given the go-ahead by his physician and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) medical staff to start training. He will go to Australia with the Test specialists and the Lions on November 4.  Stokes had taken an indefinite break to tend to his mental wellbeing and also his injured finger earlier this year, but he recently returned to the nets, fanning speculation that he was ready to return to the England side.