STOKES WILL HIT JACKPOT

BEN STOKES is expected to lead the way for another bumper pay day for English cricketers by fetching over £2million at the Indian Premier League auction.

Stokes (below) could see a healthy leap in his price tag from last year’s £1.7m owing to his performances for the Pune Supergiant that made him the tournament’s Most Valuable Player in 2017.

There has been a 20 per cent lift in the playing budgets of all teams and as they sort out the services of 578 players, many of the 24 England qualified names currently in Australia will be eagerly checking their phones.

“It’ll be interesting to see how many of our players get picked up,” said Moeen Ali. “You never know with IPL. There are so many good players, but I’m looking forward to the auction.

“I’ve put my name in, but at the moment I’m thinking I’m not going to get it in so if I do get in it’s a massive bonus. If I put high hopes on it and don’t get in it’s more disappointing.

“The guys who don’t go will be disappointed. Let’s see what happens.”