Stokes set to be unleashed for first ODI in Hamilton
England adopt patient approach with star allrounder, reports Aaron Goile.
England captain Eoin Morgan says Ben Stokes’ return to the park will likely be in the first ODI against the Black Caps in Hamilton next Sunday.
The star all-rounder is set to resume his international career while on bail, after pleading not guilty to a charge of affray in Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. The first day of his trial is set for March 12 at the city’s Crown Court, but he is not required to attend.
So, after arriving in Auckland on Friday, the 26-year-old was back training with the England side for the first time in Hamilton yesterday, on the eve of their crunch Twenty20 tri-series match against the hosts.
But Stokes wasn’t going to be considered for that game so soon after arriving, and this week coach Trevor Bayliss had labelled him ‘‘unlikely’’ for even the opening match of the five-game ODI series.
But the thinking now seems to have changed, with the February 25 day-night contest at Seddon looming as the stage for his comeback.
‘‘Yes, there’s a good chance he’ll be fit for that,’’ Morgan said, noting that next Wednesday’s T20 tri-series final in Auckland would also be too soon, should his team qualify.
‘‘He only got off the flight yesterday, he’ll be taking the next couple of days really easy, obviously there’s a big risk of injury over the next few days, so he’ll be taking a light load.’’
Stokes’ involvement in training yesterday was very limited. He warmed up with the team, hit some throwdowns on the outfield, then while the others headed to the nets he had some one-on-one fielding training, taking high and long catches. Stokes joined up in the nets later but didn’t bat or bowl, instead watching and talking with various team-mates.
Morgan said his presence was uplifting for the group.
‘‘When he arrived in last night we got together, a group of us in the team room, and just caught up for a while,’’ he said. ‘‘A lot of us have seen him in the time he’s been away, but some guys haven’t. So it’s good to have him back.’’
Stokes hasn’t played for England since September 24, when he scored 72 in an ODI against the West Indies in Bristol, then a few hours later was involved in a fight outside a nightclub in which a 27-year-old man allegedly suffered a fractured eye socket.
He will boost a formidable ODI lineup, with England coming off a 4-1 series win over Australia across the Tasman last month. From 62 ODIs Stokes averages 35.10 with the bat at a strike rate of 98.74, with 10 50s and three hundreds, while with the ball he has 53 wickets at 38.20, with an economy of 6.12.
Meanwhile, England seamer Liam Plunkett has been ruled out of the remainder of the tour due to injury.
The 32-year-old suffered a grade one tear in his left hamstring midway through the ODI series in Australia then returned to the team for the T20 match against the Black Caps in Wellington on Tuesday, where he aggravated the problem.
A replacement will be named in coming days.
He only got off the flight yesterday, he’ll be taking the next couple of days really easy, obviously there’s a big risk of injury over the next few days, so he’ll be taking a light load. Eoin Morgan