England assistant coach Paul Farbrace admits Cumbrian Ben Stokes' record-breaking Indian Premier League deal could prove a distraction during the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) series against West Indies.

But Farbrace has also backed the rest of the England team to keep the former Cockermouth Cricket Club youngster's feet firmly on the ground, ahead of the three-match ODI series, which gets under way tomorrow (1.30pm start) at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Stokes became the IPL's record overseas signing recently after being sold to Rising Pune Supergiants for £1.7m, while T20 specialist fast bowler Tymal Mills was sold to Royal Challengers Bangalore for £1.4million.

"Anything that goes on around a player or team can be a distraction," the former Sri Lanka coach Farbrace said to the Evening Standard.

"What you hope is that this is a tight enough group that when there are distractions, good humour tends to deal with them.

"Stokesy has taken quite a bit of stick when he has got near to putting his hand in his pocket – everybody has piled in.

"That’s a good thing within this group. There is a lot of humour, they are good friends.

"When there are distractions around, they are quickly brought back to earth by their mates. That’s how it should be."

The Cumbrian 25-year-old all-rounder has already enjoyed plenty of off-the-field success at the start of 2017, having also been announced as England's new Test vice-captain under the captaincy of Joe Root after Alastair Cook resigned last month.

Surrey bowler Tom Curran will join the England squad today.

He was summoned from the Lions Sri Lanka tour as cover for the injured Jake Ball, who suffered a knee injury in this week's warm-up match against the WICB President's XI in St Kitts.

In that match, Stokes took 3-35 in seven overs but was bowled by Andre McCarthy for a duck as England won the 50-over match by two wickets with Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett seeing England to victory.

The second ODI will take place on Sunday, and the third and final ODI of the series will take place a week today.