Stokes helps out Christchurch club
England cricketer Ben Stokes has taken time out to give back to the Christchurch cricket club where it all began for him.
Stokes is in the Garden City to spend time with his unwell father, former Kiwi league international Gerard Stokes, who has brain cancer.
The 29-year-old allrounder skipped England’s second and third tests against Pakistan last month, spending two weeks in quarantine back in New Zealand before joining his family.
Stokes has ventured to the
Sydenham Cricket Club during his time in the city, rubbing shoulders with club cricketers eager to pick his brains ahead of the
looming club season.
He posted a photo on Instagram of him clean bowling a batsman on a bowler-friendly green top, one which attracted comments from
England team-mate Stuart Broad and Australian Usman Khawaja.
‘‘Where’s the wicket?’’ Khawaja asked of the spring practice pitch in central Christchurch.
It isn’t the first time Stokes has taken time out to visit the Sydenham Cricket Club while in his city of birth.
Last year, he bowled six fullpaced deliveries at brother James Stokes, after his old brother bet he could survive an over from the World Cup winner.
It wasn’t pretty, but James did indeed survive the fiery over.