The England cricket coach Trevor Bayliss has welcomed the return of Ben Stokes but says the allrounder is unlikely to play the first one-day international of the New Zealand series.
Ben Stokes playing for Canterbury. Photo: Photosport
Stokes has been charged following an incident outside a Bristol last year with a court hearing due mid-March although he's not required to appear.
Bayliss says Stokes, who will miss the Twenty20 game against New Zealand on Sunday and needs to get back up to speed before he can play.
"He hasn't played for a while," Bayliss said.
"It is not as if we can maybe bring him straight back for these T20s, for example.
"We have got to get him up to speed and hopefully during this one-day series we can get him back into the team.
"At this stage I'd have to say it was unlikely (he'll play the first ODI). We'll have to wait and see how he is with travel, with practice."
Stokes, one of world cricket's most-destructive batsmen, last played a competitive match for Canterbury in New Zealand's domestic T20 competition last December.
His absence was not necessarily felt during England's 4-1 ODI series win against Australia.
However, that success has been followed by three consecutive T20 failures, with two losses against Australia and on Tuesday against New Zealand.
"Right throughout the summer we've been down to five bowlers, especially in the one-dayers and T20s," Bayliss added.
"We've been able to have six bowlers before, which gives the captain plenty of different options. I think that's what we've missed the most apart from his individual performances."
Stokes is expected to feature in England's two tests against New Zealand at Auckland and Christchurch next month.
- Reuters
