ECB keeps door open for Stokes

ENGLAND has left the door ajar for Ben Stokes to make a rapid return to Test cricket.

In another extraordinary day at Bristol Crown Court yesterday, his legal team pointed the finger of blame for his affray charge in part at teammate Alex Hales.

The latest twist to the saga came when Stokes’s barrister Gordon Cole claimed the eye injury suffered by fellow defendant Ryan Ali could have been caused by a kick from Hales rather than Stokes’s fist.

Then England unexpectedly offered Stokes the lifeline of a possible immediate re-introduction to the team in time for Saturday’s third Test against India at Trent Bridge.

The selectors named an unchanged 13-man squad after England thrashed India at Lord’s to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

But it added that “the ECB will make an assessment of Stokes’ availability when the trial has concluded”. The jury was due to retire last night to consider verdicts on Stokes and Ali after closing statements yesterday from the judge, prosecution and the two defence barristers. Both have pleaded not guilty to affray.

If Stokes is acquitted the ECB will then decide whether to parachute the all-rounder into the squad for Trent Bridge even though both he and Hales face the possibility of further action from an independent disciplinary commission.

Stokes may have to overcome considerable obstacles before being allowed to return, with the likeliest scenario remaining that he will miss not just the third Test but the rest of the series. Captain Joe Root and coach Trevor Bayliss are believed to want to rush him back as soon as possible, but the ECB will seek opinion from selectors, board chairman Colin Graves, chief executive Tom Harrison, other board members and acting director of cricket Andy Flower.