Ben Stokes has entered what teammates are calling "beast mode" as England intensifies preparations for the Ashes.
The England cricket captain has been sidelined since July due to a shoulder injury that curtailed his summer, but he is expected to be fit to lead England in the first Test against Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium on November 21.
His return as a fully functioning all-rounder is crucial for England’s hopes of regaining the urn for the first time since 2015, and teammate Ben Duckett says the skipper’s training levels have stunned the squad.
Duckett said: "I can only say we’ve been out here for a few days and he’s been in beast mode."
He told the Willow Talk podcast: "He’s been running, bowling two spells, batting for two hours. The way he trains these days is something I’ve never seen before. He’s an absolute beast.
"He’s probably the most important man in this side when he’s bowling, so hopefully he stays fit for all five Tests because he’s crucial for us."
Head coach Brendon McCullum has opted for a unique build-up to the series, shunning traditional tour matches against local opposition in favour of an in-house three-day clash against Andrew Flintoff’s England Lions at Lilac Hill.
The move is designed to ensure higher-quality opposition, but Lions seamer Josh Hull insists his side will not be going easy on the Test side in this week’s internal warm-up match.
Ben Stokes has entered what teammates are calling 'beast mode'
|PA
He said: "For England you want the batters to be in good form and whacking it about, but once you get into the battle, my job as a bowler is to take wickets for the Lions.
"You want them to have a good run out and feel good, but we’ll play our part by being really competitive.”
The 21-year-old, a 6ft 7in left-armer who made his Test debut last year, is particularly keen to challenge England’s top order, including Joe Root and Harry Brook, on bouncy Australian pitches.
Hull could also provide valuable preparation for facing Mitchell Starc, given their similar height and angle of attack.
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Josh Hull insisted England Lions are not there to play the Test side into form
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He said: "In terms of being ‘like for like’, I’m most similar to Starc.
"He’s someone I’ve idolised massively. If I can do something close to what he does, it would be successful."
Duckett believes England’s relatively fresh squad, with 11 players yet to play a Test in Australia, could be an advantage.
He said: "We’ve got quite a fresh group where there’s not a lot of baggage, which I think will help us."
England's assistant coach Marcus Trescothick said the team are "pretty confident in what we have to throw at Australia".
But Hull’s warning ensures there will be no easy passages in Perth this week.
As Stokes leads his side through punishing sessions in the heat, the Lions are preparing to push them to the limit.
The Ashes series is scheduled to run from November 21 to January 8.
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