61 Unwise to give Stokes a spray

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 tomorrow.

Stokes ( right), informally suspended from international cricket by the England and Wales Cricket Board, had a low- key bowling session with Canterbury coach Gary Stead yesterday 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.

England’s 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 miss as well.

England captain Joe Root said yesterday he was always hopeful his star all- rounder could rejoin the team but reaffirmed there would be no movement until the legal matter was finished.

“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’ 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 at Hagley Oval.

“He was a bit rusty but that’s to be expected,” Stead said.

But Stokes was “good to go” for full training today 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 on Australia 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 said.

Otago captain Jimmy Neesham said the Volts were not getting too sidetracked by Stokes’ arrival anyway.

“He’s just another player … it’s not like Don Bradman is walking out to bat,” Neesham said.

Canterbury were at pains, however, to point out the move had been “driven “by Stokes.

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.