allblackcitizen
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 18 Aug 2008
- Messages
- 1,860
I feel that's a bit unfair on Ben Stokes, saying it was pretty obviously down to money - unless he's said that of course. He didn't take the game up properly until he arrived in the UK so I assume he had little affiliation to NZ cricket at that point and he was building a nice career when his folks decided to move back down under in 2013 by which time he had already been spotted by the ECB and "in the system" having been picked to play for England. Looks just like circumstances lead him our way, on this occasion.
Maybe. Money is bound to be a factor though, and I wouldn't condemn him for that. Kiwi cricketers are notoriously badly paid by NZ cricket. The top players obviously get to supplement their earnings from NZ cricket with IPL and other 20/20 contracts, English county cricket etc. Personally i find it odd that a kiwi who came to the UK at age 12 with kiwi parents would opt for England. Different if he came much younger or his parents were English.
It's funny, most of my cricket playing compadres, and I have lots as I've played for 3-4 teams in recent years, really don't like him and I'm always saying well give him back then!