London: England all-rounder Ben Stokes will step up his return from a hamstring injury by playing for the Durham Jets in their opening match of the domestic Twenty20 Blast tournament against the Yorkshire Vikings on July 5.

The 27-year-old, who sustained the injury in the build-up to England’s second Test match against Pakistan earlier this month, will only bat during his comeback match and not bowl.

“Stokes has been training with England since the latter part of the one-day international series against Australia and will rejoin his county early next week leading into the start of Vitality Blast competition,” Durham said in a statement.

Yesterday, Stokes was named in England’s 14-man squad for the three-match One-day International (ODI) series against India, starting July 12.

Stokes will be available for selection in England’s T20I against India in Bristol on Sunday.

The all-rounder last competed in a 50-over international for England in New Zealand, which was his first competitive action after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) banned him from international cricket after his involvement in the incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September of last year.

With the India ODI series beginning on July 12, Stokes will be able to build-up match practice ahead of the five-match Test series with India, starting August 1.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings was dropped from the squad following a poor run of form, which saw him scoring just 12 (against Scotland) and 11 (Australia).

Pacer Sam Curran also missed out after having been drafted into the ODI squad for the Australia series as injury cover for his brother, Tom, and Jake Ball.

While he subsequently made his debut in the fifth and final ODI, taking two for 44 and contributing 15 with the bat, the return of both quicks saw the 20-year-old drop out.

England are currently high on confidence after whitewashing an under-strength Australia 5-0 but will need to be at their best when they face second-ranked India.

BOX

Squad: Eoin Morgan (Captain), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Jake Ball, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Mark Wood.