England success has put Stokes in the frame for a county place

Apr 11 2010 by Stuart Rayner, Sunday Sun

COMING from Cockermouth, Ben Stokes knows just how miserable a winter it has been.

However, the latest all-rounder off Durham’s production line thinks having escaped most of it will help him hit the ground running in the race for a spot in England’s best county team.

The Riversiders open the defence of their County Championship at home to Essex on Thursday, and 18-year-old Stokes is eyeing the middle-order place left open by the decision not to replace overseas star Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

A winter on England under-19 duty should help.

Stokes said: “It has been a good start since signing a new contract at the end of last season. Hopefully I can carry it on.

“I went to Bangladesh and New Zealand with England under-19s, so I have had quite a lot of cricket this winter.

“It is an advantage having played outdoors quite a lot. Hopefully, that can put me in good shape for the season.”

Floods devastated Stokes’ hometown in November, between his tours.