Stokes might as well come and join the England Ashes squad now, says Slater
WELLINGTON: Ben Stokes’ arrival in New Zealand on a “private” trip has been viewed with suspicion in neighbouring Australia, where pundits smelled a plot to recall the exiled cricketer to England’s Ashes squad.
New Zealand-born Stokes was omitted from England’s touring party following his arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm in an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September.
He remains suspended by the England and Wales cricket board (ECB), pending the result of a police investigation.
Stokes greeted his parents after touching down at Christchurch airport yesterday, but batted away questions from a media throng about his hopes of a quick Ashes recall.
He also stayed silent on a possible plan to play for Canterbury after the provincial side revealed on Tuesday it had been in talks with him about a possible short-term deal.
“Working on my golf swing,” Stokes quipped, when asked by a reporter about bringing cricket gear with him.
“Just looking forward to seeing mum and dad. Just catch up with everyone I haven’t seen in a long time.”
Australia hold a 1-0 lead in the five-Test Ashes after beating England in the opener in Brisbane on Monday. The second Test starts in Adelaide on Saturday.
England distanced itself from Stokes’ return to the country of his birth, with the ECB saying on Tuesday that it was a “private” trip to see his parents and organised outside of its auspices.
However, British media reported that the ECB had given Stokes a “no objection certificate” as early as last week to allow him to play in New Zealand.
ECB director of cricket Andrew Strauss offered no update on Stokes during a media briefing on Monday, prompting accusations of a cover-up from former Australia opener Michael Slater.
“Of course (Strauss) knew that Ben Stokes was going to Canterbury to play,” the Channel Nine pundit told Sky Sports Radio.
“Of course he knew because he was going to give a tick. He might as well come and join the England squad now.
“If you’re allowing him to play cricket, you’re allowing him to play cricket. They have the power and obviously it tells us the stance they’re taking with him.”
The news of Stokes’ arrival Down Under was encouraging to his fellow England allrounder Chris Woakes, however.
“Ben’s a world-class cricketer and he’d make any team in the world better so it’d be silly of us to not open it up for him to come into the squad,” he told BBC radio. – Reuters