Saturday 11 April 2015 20:33, UK
Ben Stokes has admitted he has learnt "nothing" from being left out of the England team over the winter.
The all-rounder, who was left out of the World Cup touring party, is back in the picture after being picked in the Test squad to tour the West Indies.
Stokes was dropped from the ODI squad following a disappointing series in Sri Lanka where England were thrashed 5-2.
He also lost his spot in the Test team after failing to get any runs in two matches against India last summer.
Asked what he learnt from a winter playing in the Big Bash and the England Lions, the Durham star replied “Nothing, really”.
He told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: “It was a World Cup, and everyone wants to be involved in that.
“To be left out was disappointing, but you’ve probably got to take some disappointment in the line of work that we’re in. I’m over it all now, and just trying to look forward.
"I’ve had a good pre-season in Dubai. I wouldn’t really say I’ve learned anything, I’ve just tried to work even harder."
And with all-rounder Moeen Ali set to miss the first Test due to a side strain, Stokes is eyeing the No 6 spot in the side.
“Looking at the squad, the No 6 or seven is probably somewhere that I’d want to be,” he added.
“Ideally, I’d like to play a similar role to the one I did in the Ashes. There’s a big opportunity for me to do that.
“I don’t see any reason why I can’t get back to the level I was at in the Ashes.
“I know I can do it, and I don’t think I’ve become a worse player since then, I just haven’t managed to quite deliver that standard.”
Stokes burst onto the scene against Australia in the last Ashes series in 2013 where he became the only England player to score a ton in the series.
England, who are looking to bounce back after being knocked out in the group stage of the World Cup, start their three-Test series on April 13th in Antigua.
