Will Ben Stokes bowl during Test series against West Indies?

Ben Stokes, England's Test captain, has a long-term goal of winning back the Ashes in Australia, but he insists this goal will not distract him from leading the team effectively in the upcoming Test series against the West Indies.

Stokes is keen to avoid the mistake of focusing too much on the Ashes at the expense of other matches. He emphasizes the need to focus on the current series against the West Indies while making decisions that will benefit the team in the long run.

"We're not focusing on that over what we need to do here," Stokes told reporters at Lord's on Tuesday.

"We've got a lot of Test cricket to play before Australia. But we had to make some decisions around what we think is best for the team going into that series."

England has made some changes following their series loss in India, dropping Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes, and introducing Jamie Smith as wicketkeeper and Shoaib Bashir as the spinner. Stokes, who will have been captain for nearly four years by the time of the Ashes series in Australia, is determined to ensure the team is well-prepared to win.

"I'm not going to lie. I want us to be able to take a squad out there that I know is going to go at Australia," said Stokes, 33.

"I'll be nearly four years as captain when we go out there, I want to know we've done everything right over this 18-month period to go out there with a strong enough squad to not just compete with Australia but to beat them.

"It's probably the first time you've heard me speak like that about something so far away. It goes back to progression as a side. I want this team to progress over the 18 months, so I'm focusing on that because I want to go to Australia and win the Ashes back."

Stokes, who underwent knee surgery, is also optimistic about returning to his role as an all-rounder, contributing both as a batsman and a fourth seam bowler.

"I've got myself into a position where I can finally say after a long time that I can play the role I've sort of been known for, which is batting and being that fourth seamer," he said.