BSP-01 Stokes cuts short NZ stay to return to England

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CRICKET-NZL-ENG-AUS-STOKES

Stokes cuts short NZ stay to return to England

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Dec 23, 2017 (BSS/AFP) – England allrounder
Ben Stokes has ended his brief New Zealand cameo and is returning to the
England “for family reasons”, Canterbury cricket officials confirmed
Saturday.

Stokes has been playing for Canterbury, his New Zealand birth province,
for the past month while waiting to learn if he would be cleared to join the
England side in the Ashes series in Australia.

In a brief statement, Canterbury Cricket chief executive Jez Curwin said
Stokes was leaving for “family reasons”, with his wife and young family back
in England.

“Ben has been great around the club, the team and the staff. We can’t
fault his attitude or his all-round contribution in his time with us and we
are sorry that he couldn’t stay with us for longer,” Curwin said.

The 26-year-old Stokes has been banned from international duties while
police investigate his alleged role in a fight outside a nightclub in Bristol
three months ago.

Curwin told Fairfax media that Stokes’ departure had “nothing to do with
the legal situation.

“Christmas time, he’s a long way from home and he’s been through a lot.
And the reality is he wants to spend Christmas with his wife and two kids,
who miss him a huge amount.”

Stokes has been provisionally named in England’s one-day international
squad to play Australia next month, depending on his legal situation, but in
the Canterbury Cricket statement he did not refer to his playing prospects.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed training and playing with Canterbury. Everyone
here has gone out of their way to make me feel at home. It’s a wonderful club
and I couldn’t have asked for any more from my time here” he said.

BSS/AFP/MRI/0830 hrs