STOKES New boys add Fiz for Royals

THE IPL is up and running and I can’t wait to put my skills to the test.

It hasn’t been that long since the England tour finished but after watching the opening two matches, the competitive juices are flowing again.

I’m fit and raring to go for hopefully a successful tournament with the Rajasthan Royals tonight against the Punjab Kings.

We’ve been finalising our preparations with some decent net training sessions and some game scenarios that have gone really well, and a few players look in great touch.

Riyan Parag is a young superstar but has had an elbow injury for a while and has just started batting again, but is looking really impressive.

All-rounder Chris Morris (above) and seamer Mustafizur Rahman have been two great additions to the squad.

With Jofra Archer injured, Fiz will be the perfect man to step up and do some damage with the new ball and then use his skills and hold his nerve at the death. He has great experience, and with that left arm angle has enough pace to be quite slippery to handle.

Chris does what he does as a world-class player who can close out games with bat or ball.

I’ve played lots against him and know all about his quality, so I’m pleased he’s on my side now and it will be great to see the middleorder power that he will bring, especially at the back end of an innings.

Chris especially adds an extra dimension to Rajasthan that we haven’t had for the last few years when it comes to his ball-striking ability.

We all know he has a decent price tag on his head, but Pat Cummins summed it up pretty well when he said just because you’ve gone for lots of money it doesn’t make the ball swing more or go any further off your bat.

Which is very true.

There is still a lot of belief and confidence in our dressing room that he will deliver for us more often than not.

IN TUNE Stokes was in India with England in the winter