Stokes on target for return in ODI series

BEN Stokes has settled back into the England cricket squad and is being primed to play in the opening one-day international against New Zealand next week.

Twenty20 captain Eoin Morgan confirmed controversial all-rounder Stokes won’t play in today’s tri-series match against the Black Caps in Hamilton.

He also won’t play in Wednesday’s final against Australia at Eden Park, if England were to beat New Zealand at Seddon Park and qualify.

The 26-year-old has plenty of time to get match-fit for the first of five ODIs on February 25, also in Hamilton.

“Yes, there’s a good chance he’ll be fit for that,” Morgan said yesterday.

“He only got off a flight yesterday. He’ll be taking the next couple of days really easy.

“There’s a big risk of injury over the next few days so he’ll be taking a light load.”

Morgan confirmed Stokes had received a warm welcome from teammates when he arrived in New Zealand on Friday, after attending court earlier in the week.

Stokes pleaded not guilty to affray at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and boarded a plane at Heathrow the next day ahead of an anticipated onfield return later this month.

Morgan said a group of players gathered with Stokes in a room at the team hotel.

They kept half an eye on coverage of Australia’s highscoring win over New Zealand at Eden Park, which kept winless England’s tournament hopes alive.

“We chipped golf balls around, talked crap and had the game on in the background,” Morgan said.

“It’s always good to see Ben back. A lot of us have seen him in the interim that he’s been away but a lot haven’t.”

Kiwi-born Stokes last played for England in an ODI against the West Indies in Bristol on September 24.

Later that night he allegedly became involved in an altercation outside a nightclub, leading to a long police investigation during which he was deemed unavailable for selection. Stokes went on to miss the entire Ashes defeat, the subsequent ODI campaign and the ongoing T20 tri-series.