Matt Prior speculates Ben Stokes' possible return for the Ashes

The former England wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior has speculated on the return of all-rounder Ben Stokes for the ongoing Ashes series. The suspended cricketer was seen at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday with his cricket gear which raised the hopes of England fans. There were also rumours that he was cleared by the police in the ongoing investigation and he was joining the team down under. However, ECB soon cleared that he was off to New Zealand for a private trip.

As it stands Stokes has visited the Kiwi nation to meet his parents in Christchurch and also to play the first-class cricket for Canterbury. He is still under investigation by Avon and Somerset Police for his alleged involvement in the brawl outside the nightclub in Bristol during the ODI series against Windies. He was also arrested on the suspicion of causing actual bodily harm but was later released during the day without any charges being laid.

Prior hopeful

Matt Prior, however, was excited with the fact that Stokes was flying to New Zealand to be match fit and hoped that he would be quickly flying down under once cleared from the case. He took to microblogging site Twitter to express his delight and hoped that he joins the England team for the third Ashes Test in Perth and reinforce their campaign to retain the urn. It remains to be seen if the 27-year-old actually travels Australia or England remain Stokes-less throughout the tour.

In the series of tweets for his followers, he wrote, “If Stokes is heading to NZ then he must be cleared I’d assume? Get the long flight out the way. Best place to get acclimatised and ready whilst not being in Oz…fly in for the Test when decisions have been made (which must be close)…” England lost the first Ashes Test comprehensively by 10 wickets exposing their similar frailties of 2013. The second Test will be played in Adelaide under the lights on December 2.

Here are the tweets of Prior:

I have a funny feeling @benstokes38 is jumping on an A380 heading to Oz! #ashes

— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) November 27, 2017

If Stokes is heading to NZ then he must be cleared I’d assume? Get the long flight out the way. Best place to get acclimatised and ready whilst not being in Oz…fly in for the Test when decisions have been made (which must be close)… https://t.co/pQoaXcIMMO

— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) November 27, 2017