Stokes speaks before first Ashes Test

Ben Stokes has spoken from the couch of his home in England just hours before the Ashes begin in Brisbane on Thursday morning.

The allrounder was pulled from the tour for his involvement in a Bristol street brawl in September.

He is reportedly set to find out this week whether he will be charged by police over the incident, which left a man hospitalised with facial injuries.

There are suggestions Stokes will be cleared by police and the England and Wales Cricket Board, possibly in time to join the squad ahead of the second Test in Adelaide.

The 26-year-old did not address his own participation in the series in a video uploaded to Twitter.

"With the Ashes starting very soon, I just wanted to get a message out to the boys in Australia," Stokes said.

"I wish them all the best for the first Test match and all the coaches and the backroom staff as well. I know how much preparation's gone into making sure everyone's right and ready to go, and by the looks of it everyone is.

"Just wanted to wish all the fans who've made the long travels out to Australia all the best as well. I hope we can give you a good result in the first Test match. I'll be sat at home watching and hoping they do really well."

England captain Joe Root has insisted he isn't banking on Stokes arriving to take a place in the XI.

Instead, he's focused on getting the most out of the group already on location.

"I think if you asked any captain in the world in any form of cricket 'would you prefer to have Ben Stokes in your squad?' ... they would all say yes," Root said.

"We are very fortunate to have him as an English player and what he has produced for England has been spectacular.

"He is someone who can win you a game within a session with both bat and ball and, of course, he will be a big miss to us.

"But we have prepared well with the group we have and that is completely out of our control."

England XI: Joe Root (c), Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Jake Ball