‘Not Don Bradman’: Ben Stokes’ Christchurch opponents take swipe at England star
ENGLAND star Ben Stokes’ Ashes future is no clearer as he prepares to play his first match in 69 days for Christchurch, with opponents Otago sharing their thoughts on the all-rounder.
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THE sledging war has taken hold in the Ashes but banished Test star Ben Stokes is unlikely to cop an earful when he turns out in rural Rangiora on Sunday.
Stokes, informally suspended from international cricket by the England and Wales Cricket Board, had a low key bowling session with Canterbury coach Gary Stead on Friday as he prepares to play for the New Zealand provincial side in a domestic one-day fixture north of Christchurch.
And his Canterbury adventure could be the only cricket Stokes plays for some time after it emerged lingering legal issues could also prevent him from playing in the one-day series following the Ashes.
The one-day squad will be named after the second Test and it’s unlikely Stokes will be named.
Big-hitting opener Alex Hales, who was out with Stokes in Bristol in September and is also stood down from playing while the issue remains unresolved, could also miss.
England captain Joe Root said on Friday said he was always hopeful his star all-rounder could re-join the team but re-affirmed there would be no movement until the legal matter was finished.
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“Fair play to him to do everything he can to get himself in the best possible place to play cricket again,” Root said of Stokes’ New Zealand playing plans.
“But we have to move forward. All of our planning and preparation has been without Ben and how we go about things won’t change.”
Stokes is yet to meet his new teammates but did a short bowling session with Stead on Friday at Hagley Oval.
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“He was a bit rusty, but that’s to be expected” Stead said.
But Stokes was “good to go” for full training on Saturday before running out against Otago for his first game in 69 days.
Canterbury captain Andrew Ellis, who played 15 one-day internationals for the Black Caps, said despite normal rivalries he didn’t see this as an opportunity to get the Englishman ready to take down “Aussie” in the Ashes.
Ellis said Stokes had been welcomed without any reservations at the club and, despite the circumstances surrounding his arrival, didn’t think anyone would give him an on-field earful.
“I think the fear of retribution, with bat or ball, should be enough for the players to keep their mouths shut,” Ellis told the Herald Sun.
Otago captain Jimmy Neesham said the Volts were not getting too side-tracked by Stokes’ arrival anyway.
“He’s just another player … It’s not like Don Bradman is walking out to bat,” Neesham said.
And it can be revealed the plan to get Ben Stokes to Canterbury was set in motion long before he boarded a plane last Tuesday.
Stokes was granted a No Objection Certificate by the ECB last Friday, despite the potential for charges to be laid over the late-night incident in Bristol.
Canterbury coach Stead was canvassing people at the club about Stokes joining them during a four-day game last weekend.
That comes despite England cricket director Andrew Strauss telling media on Monday there was “nothing to report” on Stokes.
And England captain Joe Root also said he thought pictures of Stokes at Heathrow with his cricket kit were a “wind up”.
Canterbury was at pains however to point out the move had been “driven “ by Stokes.
“He is a frustrated sportsman who is not able to play his trade,” Canterbury CEO Jez Curwin said.
It could be the first step on his path back to the England team, and potentially during the Ashes, although the move by UK police this week to hand his case file to the Crown Prosecution Service could string the matter out even longer.
Should Stokes be cleared, it’s believed the ECB disciplinary committee could backdate any penalty. He has already missed two Tests and could be available to play immediately.
Originally published as ‘Not Don Bradman’: Ben Stokes’ Christchurch opponents take swipe at England star