‘Stokes deserves IPL windfall’

AFP, LONDON: Ian Botham says "box-office" Ben Stokes deserves every penny of the more than £1.7 million ($2.1mn) that the England all-rounder will rake in playing in the Indian Premier League.
Stokes set a record for an overseas player in the cash-rich Twenty20 competition when Rising Pune Supergiants shelled out for him at last week's auction.
The 25-year-old Stokes has come up through the ranks at Durham, where Botham is the newly appointed chairman having finished his illustrious playing career with the English county.
Botham, one of the outstanding all-rounders of his generation, said he was glad that Stokes -- set to have fresh responsibilities with England as vice-captain to new Test skipper Joe Root -- was being well-rewarded.

Stokes deserves IPL windfall

AFP, LONDON: Ian Botham says box-office Ben Stokes deserves every penny of the more than 1.7 million ($2.1mn) that the England all-rounder will rake in playing in the Indian Premier League. Stokes set a record for an overseas player in the cash-rich Twenty20 competition when Rising Pune Supergiants shelled out for him at last weeks auction. The 25-year-old Stokes has come up through the ranks at Durham, where Botham is the newly appointed chairman having finished his illustrious playing career with the English county. Botham, one of the outstanding all-rounders of his generation, said he was glad that Stokes -- set to have fresh responsibilities with England as vice-captain to new Test skipper Joe Root -- was being well-rewarded.