Ben Stokes 'determined' to seize Ashes opportunity after earlier errors

England cricketer Ben Stokes has said that the past few weeks have been pretty productive for him and that he is very happy with the selection for the Ashes tour to Australia.

According to the Guardian, at the end of August Stokes played what was perhaps the best all-round game of his life, when he made 133 runs and took five wickets for Durham against Yorkshire at Scarborough.

He got back into the England team, scored a crucial 25 off 29 balls in their win over Australia in Cardiff, and followed that with his first international five-for at Southampton, the report said.

Then he was back with his county in time to help them win the Championship at Nottingham, the report added.

Stokes said that when he got the call for the series, he was absolutely speechless and did not know what to say, adding that he cannot wait to be in the changing room for the first Test this winter, so he can take in the atmosphere.

The player said that after a drinking incident, he was keen to prove how much he wanted to play for England, and show everyone that he would do everything that was being asked of him, on an off the pitch.

He said that he was still learning a lot about bowling, but he had really come on in the last two years because of the responsibility he had been given at Durham, adding that he used to be guilty of trying to get a wicket every ball, but later learned that the game is not that easy and it comes with experience.

Stokes will also see all his old family and friends from New Zealand this winter, the report further said.