Suspended England allrounder Ben Stokes is excited to be back playing cricket again after signing a deal to join Canterbury in the Ford Trophy one-day competition.

Stokes signed with Canterbury yesterday, fuelling speculation he could yet take part in the Ashes series between England and Australia.

Christchurch-born Stokes, who was involved in a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub in September that left another man with a fractured eye socket, is set to play a one-day match against Otago at Rangiora on Sunday.