Stokes previously retired from ODI cricket in 2022, citing the risk of burn-out in an increasingly busy international schedule, while he withdrew his availability from the most recent T20 World Cup in June to focus on regaining full fitness following an operation on his long-standing knee issue.
“It's a great opportunity for the white-ball team to experience what Baz has brought to the Test team,” Stokes told Sky Sports during the third ODI at Chester-le-Street. “He's an incredible coach who speaks with total commitment, and it's great that all three teams are now on the same message and the same philosophy towards playing cricket.
“If I get a call and [Baz] If someone says, ‘Do you want to come and play?’ the answer is obviously yes, but even if I don’t play I won’t be too disappointed because I can just sit back and watch everyone else play.
“I've played a lot of white-ball cricket for England, and I'm very happy with what I've achieved in that format of the game,” he said. “But to be honest we haven't talked about anything like that. I think he's just letting me focus on what I need to focus on, particularly around the Test team.”
The next challenge for Stokes' Test side is fast approaching next week, when they embark on another three-Test tour of Pakistan – a venue they won 3-0 in December 2022 in one of the most remarkable victories of the Stokes-McCullum regime to date.
Speaking ahead of the six-and-a-half-week scan, which confirmed on Wednesday that his recovery was on track, Stokes said he was feeling optimistic about the diagnosis. “It was a hamstring tear that got into my tendon, so that’s why it took a week or two longer, but my rehab has been really good, so hopefully everything will be okay tomorrow, and we can push it a little bit further.
“I have a lot more to do in terms of bowling than just my hamstring that needs to be fixed again because you use everything,” he said. “So I need to get everything right to make sure I don't damage any other part of my body.”
Although the experience England gained from the 2022 tour will stand them in good stead on this one, Stokes admitted there is still a lot unknown about the conditions they will face in Pakistan, and it’s not just because it took so long for the venues to be confirmed.
He said, “Probably till the time we don't get there, we won't have a real understanding of it.” “I know Shan Masood [Pakistan’s captain] “India is demanding faster and more lively wickets for their fast bowlers. Obviously, the last time we went there, they were slow, dry and had a bit of spin. So, we have to go there with an open mind about what we are going to get.”
This story was updated at 5.53pm BST on Wednesday, September 25 following the results of Stokes' scan.
Andrew Miller is ESPNcricinfo's UK editor. @miller_cricket