Sixers courting bad boy Stokes
BEN Stokes will finally have his day in court this week and the Sydney Sixers are one Big Bash League outfit keeping a close eye on proceedings.
It’s understood the England all-rounder’s name is on the radar for at least a couple of the BBL franchises still on the lookout for overseas talent.
South African great AB de Villiers’s decision to take himself off the Australian market has let several teams know where they stand with their international recruitment hopes and Stokes could be a beneficiary, depending on how things play out in a Bristol courtroom.
England’s light international schedule this coming summer has made the Old Enemy’s biggest names the flavour of the month for the BBL, and Jos Buttler and Joe Root are already set to join the Sydney Thunder.
Stokes is also a player of significant interest but, for obvious reasons, his status is complicated.
Tomorrow, Stokes will begin a much-scrutinised criminal trial, where he is pleading not guilty to charges of affray stemming from his alleged role in a now infamous street brawl on the eve of last summer’s Ashes.
The Sydney Sixers are on the hunt for a marquee international star and have confirmed Stokes is one of several players who have been discussed.
“A player of his calibre is always on the radar but until his legal situation is settled, we won’t really seriously consider the option,” said Sydney Sixers general manager Jodie Hawkins.
The Melbourne Renegades previously had Stokes on their books and may again be interested, while the Hobart Hurricanes, Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers each have one international spot available.
Stokes was one of three men charged over the alleged brawl and if found guilty it may be difficult for a BBL club to sign him.
However, that said, Stokes has already been heavily punished by England after he was banned for the entire Ashes and the limited overs series that followed.
It’s unknown whether the ECB would look to punish Stokes further if he was found guilty, but unless he was sidelined by his home board, the 27-year-old would technically be fair game for Twenty20 franchises.
Stokes was paid $2.4 million by the Indian Premier League this year and is regarded as one of the premier T20 matchwinners in the world.
Video footage allegedly shows Stokes punching another man to the ground, but the cricketer has privately hinted he will argue mitigating circumstances were at play.
UK reports have suggested Stokes’s legal team may try to get key evidence – potentially even the video footage – thrown out of court.
Former Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard was cleared of an affray charge back in 2009 after he successfully argued he had punched a man three times in self-defence.
West Indian spinner Sunil Narine has also been linked to several BBL franchises.