Monday 22 May 2017 13:55, UK
Ben Stokes hopes he can take his MVP-winning form in the Indian Premier League into the upcoming ODI series against South Africa, as England seek to build momentum ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, live on Sky Sports.
Stokes was named Most Valuable Player in IPL 10 after scoring 316 runs and taking 12 wickets for Rising Pune Supergiant, before missing his franchise's final two games - including Sunday's final - at England's request to prepare for a busy international summer.
The 25-year-old told Sky Sports News that despite being signed by Supergiant for £1.6m, a record IPL fee for an overseas player, the franchise knew from the off that England would withdraw him from the tournament ahead of the upcoming ODI series against South Africa - which begins at 1.30pm this Wednesday on Sky Sports 2.
"Playing for England is always the main priority when it comes to decisions like that," said Stokes, who was powerless to prevent his Pune team-mates suffering an agonising one-run defeat to Mumbai Indians in the IPL 10 Final.
"As I've said before, it was made very clear at the start of the tournament that I was available for that amount of games. So the team and the management of Pune were always aware of that.
"You don't play for awards like that (MVP) - I'm just glad that I was able to put in some performances for the team.
"You just go out there and try to perform and if you do that you're probably going to be up there on the list.
"I'm just glad that I came away with a great experience and felt like my game has got a lot better from being able to work with the best players around the world and specialist coaches in that form of the game."
Stokes, who missed two internationals against Ireland earlier this month along with fellow IPL players Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler, is back in England colours for the opening match of Royal London One-Day Series against South Africa.
"It's always exciting to play in front of a home crowd and it's a massive series against South Africa," he said.
"They're a very strong side and the Champions Trophy is the best eight teams in the world and anyone can beat anyone. We're just looking at it as a good run up into the Champions Trophy and good competitive cricket.
"We're hoping to take some momentum into the Champions Trophy - obviously being one of the favourites as well. So hopefully the lads can get into some form and we can get into winning ways as well.
"We've been amazing the last two years and we go into this knowing that teams are maybe fearing us."
Watch the entire ODI series between England and South Africa live here on Sky Sports - starting with the first ODI this Wednesday from 1.30 on Sky Sports 2.
