England Test captain Ben Stokes has urged players to push their case for international selection during the County Championship, calling it "a great opportunity." Stokes will miss Durham's opening matches as he recovers from facial surgery following a broken cheekbone suffered when struck by a ball in nets in February.

England suffered a 4-1 Ashes defeat to Australia over the winter, but Stokes remains confident in the national team's talent pool. The 34-year-old described the current pool of players as "unquestionable" and "probably as good as it's been in a very long time," highlighting the first six weeks of Championship cricket as crucial for selection.

Stokes hopes to return for county fixtures in May ahead of England's first Test against New Zealand on June 4. The all-rounder, who averaged just 18.40 with the bat in The Ashes, plans to play in the One-Day Cup this summer after opting out of The Hundred, having not featured in the 50-over format since the 2023 World Cup.