He’s on his way to New Zealand, not Australia.
For about an hour on Monday night, English cricket fans were very excited because Ben Stokes was “spotted” at Heathrow Airport carrying cricket gear…
Here he is!!! pic.twitter.com/jC1z0h74UQ
— – (@rossco_1990) November 27, 2017
This led to suggestions that the cricketer was on his way down under to help the England team in their Ashes series encounter with Australia.
Stokes is still suspended by the ECB, after a video emerged showing him involved in a brawl outside a nightclub in Bristol in September.
So, a sensational return to the team seemed highly unlikely, despite the photo.
I have a funny feeling @benstokes38 is jumping on an A380 heading to Oz! #ashes
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) November 27, 2017
It turned out that Stokes is, according to Sky Sports, flying to his native New Zealand to spent time with his family and to train, rather than on his way to save the English team.
BREAKING: @benstokes38 is travelling to New Zealand to practice and spend time with his family, according to Sky sources #ssn pic.twitter.com/QLadEhwlhm
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 27, 2017
However, for a brief time, people were very excited about a sensational Stokes return, and it led to a lot of wrestling gifs.
https://twitter.com/AVCJX/status/935254746671271937
https://twitter.com/Koka_Kolasinac/status/935245914222006273
“Bah god that’s Ben Stokes’ music!Ben Stokes! Ben Stokes! Ben Stokes!” #ashes #ashes2017 #benstokes #rumours #nottrue pic.twitter.com/ADiAolJeo9
— Chris Marsh (@mrkermode) November 27, 2017
An awful lot.
Ben Stokes be running into Adelaide like… pic.twitter.com/TQf2zboXGE
— Jack (@Jack_J_Lewis) November 27, 2017
Oh my god, that’s Ben Stokes’s music #Ashes2017 pic.twitter.com/KW2hnNRT7G
— Dan Sayles (@DanSayles) November 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/Mcatf90/status/935261216825540608
England recalling Ben Stokes' like pic.twitter.com/Ae5pH7w8i5
— Tom (@tom_cooperr) November 27, 2017
@benstokes38 You better be on that plane #Ashes2017
— Chris (@ChrisRound0) November 27, 2017
Ben Stokes is at Heathrow and Juan Roman Riquelme is signing for Everton
— Tom Rostance (@TJRostance) November 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/gullyburrows/status/935261339697721349
And one joke did the rounds.
English cricket fans will be devastated when it emerges Ben Stokes is off to Australia for I'm A Celeb
— Si Lloyd (@SmnLlyd5) November 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/stedonaldson9/status/935260943763886080
