Ben Stokes brought down to earth after IPL boon

Less than a week after earning the most lucrative overseas contract in IPL history, Ben Stokes was brought back down to earth somewhat in the opening match of England's tour of the West Indies over the weekend.

Having hammered a quickfire half-century in England's one-day tour match against the University of West Indies Vice Chancellor's XI, Stokes was given a sobering reality check when he was handed the ball, reports cricket.com.au

The right-armer was hammered for 23 runs from his first over and was promptly removed from the attack, with 20-year-old local batsman Shimron Hetmyer launching two sixes and two fours in the over, which also included two wides and a no-ball.

The Englishman later returned to take the final wicket in his side's 117-run win to finish with 1-27 from 1.5 overs.

Stokes was one of four England batsmen to post a half-century; skipper Eoin Morgan, himself purchased for $390k by Kings XI Punjab at the auction, posted 95, new Test skipper Joe Root notched 71 and opener Jason Roy, who was bought for $194k by Gujarat Lions, hit 79 from just 43 balls.

In reply, Walton was the only local player to post fifty as the hosts were bowled out for 262 inside 40 overs.

The match in St Kitts was England's first of two warm-up games ahead of their three-match one-day international series against the West Indies, starting in Antigua on March 3.