Ben Stokes’s arrival in New Zealand on a "private" trip has been viewed with suspicion in neighbouring Australia, where pundits smelled a plot to recall the exiled cricketer to England’s Ashes squad. New Zealand-born Stokes was omitted from England’s touring party after his arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm in an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September. He remains suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), pending the investigation by the police. Stokes greeted his parents after touching down at Christchurch airport on Wednesday but batted away questions from the media about his hopes of an Ashes recall. He also stayed silent on a possible plan to play for Canterbury after the provincial side revealed on Tuesday it had been in talks with him about a short-term deal. "Working on my golf swing," Stokes quipped, when asked by a reporter about bringing cricket gear with him. "Just looking forward to seeing mum and dad," he said. "Just catch up with...
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