Quantcast

Stokes fails in latest NZ hit-out

England allrounder makes a duck for Canterbury but continues to play waiting game over fallout from Bristol incident

Ben Stokes' stint in New Zealand cricket has continued with the England allrounder run out for a duck in a domestic one-day game.

Stokes, who is sweating on a verdict from UK prosecutors regarding his brawl outside a Bristol club in September that left a man with a fractured eye socket, is barred from internationals but has been cleared to play domestic cricket with Canterbury.

The allrounder returned figures of 1-56 from 10 overs in Sunday's one-day fixture at Christchurch's Hagley Oval between Canterbury and Northern Districts.

But he later paid the price for ball watching from the non-striker's end, having faced just one delivery.

Called through for a single by partner Michael Pollard, Stokes hesitated as Brett Randell collected the ball at mid-on and threw down the stumps.

Stokes earlier pocketed a return catch to dismiss Northern Districts allrounder Anton Devcich in his ninth over, claiming his first wicket for Canterbury in his third game for the team.

Defending champions Canterbury, chasing their first win of the one-day competition, were set a target of 275.

Christchurch-born Stokes is playing in his country of birth while waiting to learn if he'll be able to play in Australia this summer.

Dec 6: Stokes finds touch as ODI series looms

Stokes was last week provisionally named in England's ODI squad for the five-match series that follows the Ashes.

"I would bet my bottom dollar that unless this case comes to an end very quickly, there is no chance that Ben Stokes will play cricket in Australia this (UK) winter," former captain Michael Vaughan said last week.

"They don't want to prejudice any kind of case moving forward. They had to include him in the squad.

"It's very confusing but I don't think anything has changed."

England's squad are struggling to shake off allegations they have a problem with booze after incidents involving Stokes, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Duckett.

The England and Wales Cricket Board placed Stokes under suspension, but the ban applies only to England matches and it has raised no objection to Stokes playing in New Zealand.

In his Canterbury debut against Otago in Rangiora a week ago, Stokes faced seven balls and made two before being bowled by Otago spinner Anaru Kitchen.

Three days later he made 34 off 41 balls before he was trapped lbw when trying to sweep leg-spinner Tarun Nethula. 

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21