Ben Stokes has offered encouragement he might return to action soon after posting a picture showing him gripping a bat for the first time since breaking his finger in April.
England's talismanic all-rounder fractured his left index finger attempting to take a catch while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League six months ago.
Earlier this month, he underwent a successful second operation at the hands of Leeds surgeon Doug Campbell, who removed the screws from the finger and treated scar tissue that had been causing Stokes considerable pain.
The 30-year-old played through the pain barrier to captain England's hastily-assembled one-day team to a 3-0 series win over Pakistan in July after a Covid outbreak quarantined the original squad.