Aussies sure to heckle Stokes

BEN Stokes is expected to be subjected to provocation in Australia during this summer’s Ashes cricket series after the England vice-captain’s arrest for alleged brawling.

The star all-rounder was dropped for England’s one-day match against the West Indies today after his arrest outside a nightclub in Bristol on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.

Stokes has kept his spot for the Ashes and the vice-captaincy, with England’s cricket director Andrew Strauss insisting earlier that the squad would be named “based on form and fitness”.

Stokes has a history of misdemeanours, while police investigations into the incident early on Monday could result in him facing court.

There were also rumours in the UK press Stokes that might have broken his hand in the stoush.

He hit a swashbuckling century during his debut Test series in Australia in 2013.

He has taken 26 Ashes wickets at 33.07 with his medium-fast pace.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said the 26year-old would be “goaded the moment he arrives” in Australia – a view echoed by another ex-skipper Nasser Hussain.

“If this sort of thing can happen in Bristol, then it could happen anywhere in Australia during the Ashes tour,” Hussain told the Daily Mail.

“You can be absolutely sure there will be someone in Australia

out to make a name for themselves who will know what Ben is like and will try to wind him up.

“He will have to be a lot more careful than he has been so far in his career.”

England national selector James Whitaker later told the BBC that Stokes would remain in his position of vice-captain to Test skipper Joe Root.

The squad contained three uncapped players in 23-yearold Somerset fast bowler Craig Overton, 20-year-old Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane, and Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, 24, included as cover for first-choice gloveman Jonny Bairstow.

Meanwhile there were recalls for middle-order batsmen James Vince and Gary Ballance despite the pair’s struggles in their previous Test stints.