Ashes 2017: Ben Stokes fails with the bat for New Zealand's Canterbury on return to competitive cricket

Wellington: Suspended England star Ben Stokes’s highly anticipated return to the crease was over almost as soon as it began in New Zealand on Sunday. Playing in a limited overs match for his birth province Canterbury against Otago, Stokes only faced seven balls before he was bowled for two. [caption id=“attachment_3291900” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  England all-rounder Ben Stokes. AFP[/caption] It was the all-rounder’s first match in 69 days amid speculation he is preparing for a dramatic Ashes call-up. But while England are playing before a 55,000-plus crowd in the second Ashes Test against Australia in Adelaide, Stokes turned out for Canterbury at a village ground on the outskirts of Christchurch with a crowd of about 1,000. Canterbury, batting first, were in trouble at three down for eight when Stokes was bowled. The 26-year-old has maintained he was in New Zealand on a family visit and just wanted to “do well, and contribute to Canterbury winning”. Stokes is currently banned from international cricket while British authorities probe his alleged involvement in a late-night fight outside a Bristol nightclub. He has missed the first two Ashes Tests, which includes a 10-wicket defeat in the opening encounter in Brisbane. The third Test starts in Perth on 14 December.