IT’S CURTAINS FOR STOKES’ STAGE DEBUT

BEN STOKES’S stage debut has been called off. The England Test captain and Bazball hero launched the series The Icons and was due to appear live in Newcastle and Manchester on Thursday and Saturday respectively.

Stokes had gone on talkSPORT to preview the mini-tour, which was meant to see him in conversation with former Love Island star and professional boxer Josh Denzel.

The audience were promised that the lid would be lifted on England’s ‘incredible transformation’ since Stokes teamed up with Brendon McCullum, with Sportsmail columnist David Lloyd joining Stokes and Denzel on stage at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall.

However, both events have been cancelled, with ticket-buyers refunded.