ALEX HALES REINSTATED BY ENGLAND
LONDON : Alex Hales has been reinstated by England after it was confirmed that he is no longer a suspect in the case involving teammate Ben Stokes’ late-night fight in Bristol. Hales and Stokes were indefinitely suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in September after video footage emerged allegedly showing Stokes in an altercation with two men.
Stokes was released under investigation on September 25 after being detained overnight on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm. Avon and Somerset Police have since confirmed that a man suffered a fractured eye socket in the incident and passed the case to the Crown Prosecution Service last week for “charging advice”. An ECB statement read: “Alex Hales will now be considered for England selection, following confirmation that he is no longer a suspect in relation to an incident in Bristol in September.
“The ECB Board has convened via conference call to make the decision after being informed that Hales is deemed a witness and will face no charges. The independent Cricket Discipline Commission has stayed the internal disciplinary process for both Alex Hales and Ben Stokes until the conclusion of any potential criminal proceedings relating to the incident.” Hales is unlikely to make a comeback in the Ashes series, but will be in line for an international return in the ODI series against Australia in the new year. The waters around Stokes’ availability were muddied this week as the ECB granted him a ‘No Objection Certificate’, allowing the allrounder to fly to New Zealand to play for Canterbury in limitedovers competition. Reports have suggested that Stokes could be available to play in Perth from December 14 and a flight Down Under has done little to quell such suggestions, but ECB has reaffirmed there are no such plans.