Stokes flies to rescue
BEN STOKES has his sights set on kickstarting his England career in the opening one-dayer against New Zealand.
The all-rounder formally entered a not guilty plea to a charge of affray at Bristol Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
But with a trial date likely to be set several months down the line, he has been granted bail and will fly to New Zealand today.
A statement from the ECB confirmed Stokes will arrive on Friday but is unlikely to play in England’s last T20 round-robin match of the Tri-Series against the Kiwis in Hamilton on Sunday.
However, subject to fitness, he looks sure to play a full part in the five-match ODI series against the Black Caps which runs from February 25 to March 9 and the two-match Test series that follows before a full Indian Premier League season. The Durham star’s trial relates to the incident in Bristol last September which led to him being ruled out of the winter’s international cricket.
The next hearing takes place on March 12 but Stokes will not have to attend court on that date.
The likely wait for the trial would clear Stokes to play not only in the IPL but possibly the start of the English summer as well.
Yet the ECB statement emphasised yesterday any obligations he has within the legal process “will always take precedence” over his England commitments.
England need the lift Stokes’ arrival will bring.
They lost their third T20 in the Tri-Series against New Zealand in Wellington yesterday, failing by 12 runs to chase down the hosts’ 196-5.
Following the two losses against Australia it left them staring down the barrel when they face New Zealand again that in Hamilton on Sunday. England will need Australia to beat the Kiwis on Friday and then inflict a heavy defeat on their hosts to have any chance of making the final against the Aussies.
The ECB are meeting today to hammer out major match allocations for 2020 to 2024, including the Ashes of 2023 as well as the venues for the new T20 competition.
Ageas Bowl officials are confident they have secured one of the five Ashes Tests with Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston and Old Trafford the other four hosts.
The Southampton venue is also increasingly confident of being named as one of eight hubs for the new T20 competition starting in 2020 alongside Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston, Old Trafford, Headingley and Trent Bridge.
Bristol and Cardiff are set to go head-to-head for the remaining spot.