Shane Warne and suspended England all-rounder Ben Stokes (Picture: Getty)

Shane Warne has put the Ashes rivalry to one side by insisting he hopes suspended England star Ben Stokes is able to return to the game as soon as possible.

Stokes is a major doubt for this winter’s Ashes campaign and his absence would be a significant boost for Australia’s hopes of securing the urn.

IPL 2020: Royal Challengers Bangalore squad & predictions as Virat Kohli eyes first title

But Warne wants to see Stokes back in action and says ‘cricket is poorer’ without England’s star all-rounder.

‘I don’t know what the latest is but cricket is poorer without Ben Stokes,’ the legendary leg-spinner told Omnisport.


Andrew Strauss delivers a statement on Stokes at The Oval (Picture: Getty)

‘He’s a quality cricketer so hopefully we see him back in the arena soon.’



Asked for an Ashes prediction, Warne said it was too early to form a strong opinion but insisted it would be a close series between two evenly matched sides.

He added: ‘It’s too early, we’ve got to work out who’s playing and what the injury situations are before making any predictions.

‘Australia will do pretty well at home but I think it’s going to be very, very close.’

While Warne is happy to sit on the fence for the time being, former England captain Andrew Flintoff is in no doubt that Joe Root’s side will defend the Ashes.

The Ashes dates NOVEMBER 4-5 v Western Australia XI, Perth (Waca) 8-11 v Cricket Australia XI, Adelaide 15-18 v Cricket Australia XI, Townsville 23-27 1st Test, Brisbane (00:00 GMT) DECEMBER 2-6 2nd Test, Adelaide (d/n) (04:00 GMT) 9-10 v Cricket Australia XI, Perth (venue TBC) 14-18 3rd Test, Perth (Waca) (02:30 GMT) 26-30 4th Test, Melbourne (23:30 GMT, 25-29 Dec) JANUARY 4-8 5th Test, Sydney (23:30 GMT, 3-7 Jan) 11 v Cricket Australia XI, Sydney (venue TBC) 14 1st ODI, Melbourne (03:20 GMT) 19 2nd ODI, Brisbane (04:20 GMT) 21 3rd ODI, Sydney (03:20 GMT) 26 4th ODI, Adelaide (03:50 GMT) 28 5th ODI, Perth (venue TBC) (06:20 GMT)

‘It’s not a case of England winning, it’s by how many,’ he told BBC Radio 5 live. ‘I really believe in that side.

‘I look at it and think it’s a side you want to be involved in, from the coach and captain down. I think England will have a good winter.’

MORE: Ashes will ‘galvanise’ England even if Ben Stokes sits out - Jimmy Anderson