With a tight schedule, England has just wrapped up a white-ball series in New Zealand.
Even if they had organized a series of first-class matches in Australia, their opposition would probably not have been strong, given the ongoing Sheffield Shield domestic competition.
Criticism of the build-up comes from previous players on both sides of the Ashes divide.
“Cricket has changed a lot,” Stokes said. “Preparation is no longer as simple as before. You could go on tour two months before the start of the first match.
“We have been preparing for this tour not for the last three weeks, but we have been thinking and processing a lot about this for a few years. I don’t know what else we are expected to do.
“There are quite a few factors that explain why we can’t prepare like those who have done in the past. Everything has changed. We feel very comfortable with the way we prepare because we leave no stone unturned.”
Stokes, 34, has not played since being ruled out of the final Test against India in the summer.
He was excellent in that series before suffering the injury, which occurred after going through a heavy bowling workload. Injuries have prevented Stokes from completing any of England’s last four Test series.
However, he has been bowling at full speed in training, something he said he has been doing for two months.
With Australia captain Pat Cummins missing the first Test due to a back injury, the ultimate fate of the urn could be influenced by which captain spends more time on the field, and Stokes said he is in a “good place” to get through the series.
“That’s all I’ve been doing for the last three months is making sure I’m fit and strong,” he said.
“When the test series starts, it’s about being sensible during the rest periods, how much work I do, because I’ve been preparing to get here now.”
