By Greg StutchburyWELLINGTON (Reuters) - Canterbury Cricket are hoping Ben Stokes's first match at their main venue at Hagley Oval on Sunday will help boost the size of what are traditionally small crowds at New Zealand's domestic one-day competition. Canterbury Cricket chief executive Jez Curwin was loathe to predict that the England all-rounder's presence would provide a massive boost in attendance, but expected a larger than usual crowd. Despite the controversy of his Canterbury signing, only about 350 people turned up at Rangiora, about 30 kilometres north of Christchurch, to see Stokes's debut last Sunday. Stokes has appeared rusty in his two appearances having not played since Sept. 23, but was named in England's one-day squad earlier this week for a series in Australia next month. "Ben is obviously getting cricket under his belt which is a really good decision," Morgan said after the squad was named.

Source: Economic Times December 08, 2017 05:15 UTC