Allrounder Ben Stokes hit seven sixes in 47-ball innings of 93 in a Twenty20 match for Canterbury province Thursday which sends the strongest signal yet that he is ready for a recall to the England Test team during its current Ashes series in Australia.
Banned from playing for England while prosecutors consider whether he will be charged over a nightclub incident at Bristol in September, Stokes also hit six fours as he raced to a half-century from 29 balls.
He then took a wicket and a catch as Canterbury bowled out Otago province for 83 to win by 134 runs.