Storm still swirling over Stokes’ status
Strauss ‘would be the one losing sleep’
CRICKET ENGLAND cricket kingpin Andrew Strauss faces the defining decision of his postplaying career as he wades through a sea of Ben Stokes speculation and a cacophony of competing interests.
That is the opinion of former England star Kevin Pietersen, whose hopes of an international recall were extinguished by Strauss because he believed Pietersen was a toxic influence in the dressing room.
Suspended England allrounder Stokes signed with New Zealand franchise Canterbury yesterday, further fuelling speculation he could return in the Ashes.
Christchurch-born Stokes, who was involved in a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub in September that left another man with a fractured eye socket, is set to play a one-day match against Otago on Sunday.
UK police recently finalised an investigation into the scrap and prosecutors must now decide whether to charge England’s vice-captain.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) reiterated yesterday it will not finalise Stokes’ punishment – nor let the vice-captain play internationals – until there is a charging decision.
Prosecutors may not make that call until the current fiveTest series is over but there remains widespread speculation Stokes could return soon, possibly as early as the third Test that starts on December 14.
“It could be, absolutely,” Pietersen said, when asked if deciding Stokes’ fate will be the defining call of Strauss’ tenure as ECB director of cricket.
“The big pressure here is on Andrew Strauss ... he’s going to lose sleep over it. Will it (recalling Stokes) be too much of a distraction in a current series? Will it put too much pressure on him being the saviour if they are 2-0 down and he comes to play in Perth and he has a bad Test match?”
England paceman Jimmy Anderson welcomed news Stokes would soon be playing cricket, noting “if the situation does change he can hopefully join up with us at some point”.
Pietersen, speaking at a charity event at Sydney’s Hyatt Regency Hotel, gave an insight into what Stokes’ life would be like in Australia this summer. “You’re the pantomime villain. It’s not fun. You get sprayed absolutely everywhere,” he said.
“Would it be too much to ask for? He might have a good go at it, he might not. And if he doesn’t, how badly will that reflect on the ECB?”
Canterbury Cricket Association (CCA) confirmed yesterday it had signed Stokes, a day after the 26-year-old landed in Christchurch and generated mixed headlines.
Peter Fulton, a former Canterbury captain who played 16 first-class seasons with them, flagged concerns and termed it a “messy situation” given the fact local Ken McClure had just been stood down after pleading guilty to assault.
“We believe Ben has the right to be treated the same way as other players,” CCA chief executive Jez Curwin said.
WILL IT (RECALLING STOKES) BE TOO MUCH OF A DISTRACTION IN A CURRENT SERIES? WILL IT PUT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON HIM BEING THE SAVIOUR IF THEY ARE 2-0 DOWN?
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