Ben Stokes helps out Sydenham

England cricketer Ben Stokes has taken time out to give back to the Christchurch cricket club where it all began.

Stokes is in the Garden City to spend time with his unwell father, former Kiwi league international Gerard Stokes, who has brain cancer.

The 29-year-old allrounder led England’s second and third tests against Pakistan last month, spending two weeks in quarantine back in New Zealand before joining his family.

Stokes ventured to the Sydenham Cricket Club during his time in the city, rubbing shoulders with club cricketers eager to pick his brains.

He posted a photo on Instagram of him bowling a batsman on a bowler-friendly green top, one which attracted comment fromAustralian Usman Khawaja.

‘‘Where’s the wicket?’’ Khawaja asked of the spring practice pitch. It isn’t the first time Stokes has visited the Sydenham Cricket Club while in his birth city. Last year, he bowled six full-paced balls at brother James, after his older brother bet he could survive an over. It wasn’t pretty, but James survived the fiery over.