Ben Stokes had a mixed time during his short stint in New Zealand for Canterbury. Photo: Getty ImagesSuspended England all-rounder Ben Stokes has ended his stint in New Zealand and is returning to the United Kingdom for "family reasons," Canterbury said on Saturday. Stokes had signed a short-term contract with Canterbury after being omitted from England's Ashes squad pending the outcome of a police investigation into an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September. While Stokes, who was born in Christchurch, had said the trip was to visit family, it fuelled speculation the 26-year-old was preparing for a recall to the Ashes squad. The Ashes series continues with the fourth test in Melbourne, starting on Dec. 26, and finishes with the fifth test in Sydney from Jan. 4-8.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 23, 2017 03:22 UTC