Stokes better for IPL stint, says Botham

As England sweat on the fitness of Ben Stokes ahead of Thursday's Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh at The Oval, his legendary predecessor Ian Botham has credited the in-form allrounder's stint in the Indian Premier League as being particularly valuable to his development as a player.

Stokes crashed a match-winning 101 from 79 balls in England's second ODI against South Africa on Saturday, a knock that included 11 fours and three sixes as he underlined his reputation as one of the players to watch at the upcoming ICC event.

Critics of English involvement in the IPL were quick to blame Stokes' involvement in the lucrative tournament for his knee troubles, however Botham dismissed that idea as incorrect. 

Instead, he suggested Stokes' time in the spotlight of the IPL, and the fact that he performed under the pressure of being the tournament's most costly signing (his AUD$2.8m fee to Rising Pune Supergiant was the highest ever for an overseas player), has been decisive in his evolution, particularly mentally.

Stokes played 12 matches for Pune before linking up with England ahead of the Champions Trophy, missing the finals of the lucrative tournament.

Quick Single: Boof's timely reminder to England

In that time, he scored 316 runs – including a match-winning hundred – and took 12 wickets to be named the Most Valuable Player in IPL10.

"He has matured as person and cricketer," Botham said on Sky Sports.

"People were saying to me, 'Do you think he should have gone for that long to the IPL?'

"The answer is 'yes' because he's come back a better cricketer.

"He's probably thinking a lot clearer and knows what he wants to do; he doesn't get flustered anymore.

"The red mist comes down occasionally but he's controlling that.

"I think he's come back from India a better cricketer and I think people should look at the bigger picture and not just say 'he's got a knee injury – he got that in the IPL' when in fact, he's had that a while."

Stokes has been left out of England's third ODI against the Proteas, to be played Monday, and captain Eoin Morgan said he wasn't overly concerned by his star allrounder's fitness.

"I'm not worried," said Morgan. "We're managing it as we go along.

"He played as a batter for us about a year ago when the same injury crept up.

Quick Single: England hunt elusive ODI silverware

"We did a very similar thing against Pakistan where he only bowled three or four overs.

"We built on it from there and then the injury went away.

"We're monitoring how it react after bowling, because it's bowling that aggravates it.

"He's crucial to our campaign, so hopefully we'll have a fit Ben Stokes for the Champions Trophy.

"He hates missing out, he always wants to be involved, (and) with the form he's in, I won't be the one telling him he's not playing."

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy squad named so far

Group A: Australia, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh.

Group B: India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan.

Schedule

Warm-up matches

26 May – Australia v Sri Lanka, The Oval

27 May – Bangladesh v Pakistan, Edgbaston

28 May – India v New Zealand, The Oval

29 May – Australia v Pakistan, Edgbaston

30 May – New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston

30 May – Bangladesh vs India, The Oval

Tournament

1 June – England v Bangladesh, The Oval (Day)

2 June – Australia v New Zealand, Edgbaston (D)

3 June – Sri Lanka v South Africa, The Oval (D)

4 June – India v Pakistan, Edgbaston (D)

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, The Oval (D/N)

6 June – England v New Zealand, Cardiff (D)

7 June – Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)

19 June – Reserve day (D)