Stokes is back in the saddle
EOIN MORGAN has confirmed Ben Stokes is set to make his long-awaited international return in tomorrow’s first ODI against New Zealand.
The totemic all-rounder has not played for his country since his arrest last September during a night out that followed England’s victory in the third ODI against West Indies in Bristol.
Stokes was subsequently stood down by the ECB for the Ashes and one-day series in Australia.
That suspension was lifted last month when he was charged by police with affray, and he flew out to New Zealand last week after pleading not guilty in his first court appearance.
Coach Trevor Bayliss subsequently played down talk of Stokes returning for the start of the series against the Black Caps, saying: “It might be a bit early for him.”
But 18 weeks after they started a marathon winter without him, England appear to have had a change of heart and are ready to call on Stokes for the first time in five months.
“We’re expecting him to play, providing there aren’t any hiccups,” said limited-overs skipper Morgan. “He has pulled up well over the last couple of days and providing he gets through a little bit of bowling then he’ll be fit.
“He’s turned up incredibly fit. The bowling would be the hiccup if he did pick up a niggle but at the moment it’s looking good.”
Morgan, a horse-racing enthusiast, added: “It would be nice for him to get a race under his belt. That all makes sense but equally when you do have a racehorse of the quality of Ben, you need to look after him as well.”
Providing he is fit, Stokes will return to the team at No5 in the batting order, meaning Jonny Bairstow or Alex Hales missing out.
“It’s a tough decision,” said Morgan. “We’ve been spoilt for batters for the period of time we have been together in this group but it’s a nice choice to have.” Stokes is short on match practice, with the six limited-overs matches he played for Canterbury in New Zealand late last year his only action since that last England appearance against West Indies on September 24.
But even if Stokes is not 100 per cent on the bowling front, Morgan said: “He could equally be picked as a batter. If he’s fine he should be able to play some part with the ball.”
England did not miss Stokes during their most recent ODI series, winning 4-1 in Australia.
But they will welcome the return of their most charismatic player against a New Zealand team who are coming into this first match in Hamilton on the back of eight successive wins.
“It is a big series,” said Morgan. “We are going to have to reproduce similar performances or better than we did in Australia to win.”