Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BEN’S BACK... RIGHT TIME, WRONG PLACE
Stokes set to play for Canterbury in New Zealand, 2,000 miles away from the Ashes battle in Adelaide
BEN STOKES returns to action tomorrow, nearly 2,000 miles from where he is most needed. Instead of lining up for England in the Second Test that started in Aderlaide overnight, one of the world’s most exciting players will be making his debut for New Zealand province Canterbury against Otago in Rangiora tomorrow.
The all-rounder’s appearance in the 50-over Ford Trophy competition has split opinion among the province’s former internationals. Stokes is waiting to see whether he will be charged following his arrest over a late-night fracas in Bristol. Former Canterbury and New Zealand man Chris Harris said: “It’s great for Canterbury. We don’t often see quality world-class all-rounders in our neck of the woods. He’s such a competitive guy, I think he’ll do well. “I’m a big believer you’re innocent until proven guilty. It’s possibly a different situation if he’s found guilty and they then make a decision.” That view is not shared by Peter Fulton, Canterbury’s record runscorer and another one-time Black Cap, who retired last season. He called Stokes’ signing “complicated” and “messy” when it was announced and added: “What I said the other day is what I think. The decision has been made.”
Fulton also admitted he may have felt differently had he still been playing, given Stokes’ quality. “I would have been in that bubble and thought he’s a world-class player. He’s going to help us win the game,” he said. “But it’s nothing to do with him or his ability or anything like that.” England went into the first-ever day/night Ashes Test being told to stop whinging by Australia skipper Steve Smith.
England quick Jimmy Anderson claimed the Aussies behaved like “bullies” in the First Test victory. But Smith said: “I think it is interesting coming from Jimmy calling us bullies and big sledgers. I think he’s one of the biggest sledgers in the game.
“To me, in particular. I can remember back in 2010 when I first started and I wasn’t any good and he was pretty happy to get stuck into me then, so it is interesting coming from Jimmy.
“I think everything was fine in Brisbane and it was played in good spirit.
“As I’ve said before, there is a line we are not to cross and I thought we played in good spirit, so I’ve got no issues there.
“The umpires and the match referee are there to determine where the line is. From my point of view it is about playing good, hard, aggressive cricket and I think we did that well at The Gabba.”