Stokes can’t play for England right now, says Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen said that as much as he likes to see Ben Stokes ‘smash it’ on the field, he has advised the suspended England vice-captain against travelling to Australia for the upcoming Ashes.
Stokes is on an indefinite suspension handed by the England & Wales Cricket Board, after he was arrested for a night causing bodily harm to a man outside a Bristol nightclub Mbargo. Along with Stokes, Alex Hales was also suspended indefinitely.
Stokes was named in England’s touring party to Australia despite his arrest, but a video that surfaced soon after the incident showed the 26-year-old cricketer ‘raining punches’ on a man outside the club, led to his suspension. Stokes has been dropped from the Ashes squad and Steven Finn has been named his replacement.
The outcome of the ongoing investigation from Avon and Somerset police will play a huge role in deciding Stokes’ immediate future, as ECB await police to finish their task.
According to cricket.com.au, Pietersen told The Sunday Times, “I can hardly watch the bit at the end, it is horrendous. That 45-second video is brutal. The more you watch it the more shocking it is. I have watched it with some leaders in business and the general view was, ‘you cannot represent your country with a video like that going around’.”
“Whether you like it or not, you become someone that people look up to. Someone that kids look up to. You cannot play for your country if you carry on like that. You cannot represent that badge. The more that you watch that video, the worse it gets. It is horrible, I can hardly watch the bit at the end, it’s horrendous,” Pietersen was quoted as saying.
The former England captainsays Australia will not be an ideal place for Stokes right now.
“Australia is a hostile place and I don’t think with his personality, at least from what we have seen, I just don’t think it will work in Australia. I wanted to look for excuses because I like Stokesy and love watching him smash it.”
Pietersen feels this is not the time for Stokes to be brought back “Whatever the rights and wrongs of the case, I don’t think you can play for England right now.”
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