XtraTime Web Desk Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajsthan Royals received a huge boost as England all rounder returned to training at Christchurch. The World Cup winning cricketer shared a video of him practicing at the Sydenham Cricket Club. Stokes became a little nostalgic while sharing the video on his instagram handle as it was the same place where he began his journey in cricket.
In the video, Stokes did not seemed to have lost any touch as he bowled accurate line and length and the ball crashed onto the stumps after the batsman played the wrong line. “Been great being in Christchurch we’re it all began for me. thanks to @sydenhamcricket for letting me use their facilities to bowl in..unlucky today @nick.smithson.7,” Stokes wrote on Instagram.
Stokes had left the United Kingdom ahead of the second test against Pakistan and flew to New Zealand to be with his father Ged who was diagnosed with brain cancer.
After landing in New Zealand, Stokes had to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine before he could meet his father. As per a PTI report, Stokes, who plays for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is likely to miss the first half of the tournament which kick-starts in the UAE on September 19.
While there are clouds of uncertainty over Stokes’ availability for this year’s IPL, Rajasthan Royals head coach Andrew McDonald said that they are ready to give their star all-rounder “as much time as he needs” and respect his privacy.
McDonald also said that he “doesn’t want to second-guess what will happen with him” just yet and will make a call depending on how things pan out.
The cash rich league will begin from September 19 with reigning champions Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings. Rajasthan Royals will face CSK in their opening game on September 22.