Stokes suspended and puts Ashes spot in danger

LONDON: Ben Stokes’ (pic)Ashes hopes were in the balance after England suspended him from international matches “until further notice” after a video emerged apparently showing him fighting outside a nightclub.

Test vice-captain Stokes was included in England’s Ashes squad announced on Wednesday, despite reportedly injuring his hand in the incident that led to his arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.

The 26-year-old Durham all-rounder was released without charge on Monday but remains under investigation.

The Sun newspaper published the footage from outside a nightclub in the southwest city of Bristol late on Wednesday.

Opening batsman Alex Hales, who was with Stokes on Sunday after playing alongside him during a win over West Indies in the third one-day international in Bristol, has also been suspended from England international selection.

“Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will not be considered for selection for England international matches until further notice,” said an England and Wales Cricket Board statement.

“Each remains on full pay pending further ECB investigation and the ongoing police investigation into an incident in Bristol in the early hours of Monday, Sept 25.

“Andrew Strauss, director of England cricket, will today refer the internal disciplinary procedure for these two players to the Cricket Discipline Commission, chaired by Tim O’Gorman.”

The statement added: “These decisions, fully supported by ECB chairman Colin Graves, were made following the release of footage viewed by ECB for the first time on Wednesday night.”

Neither Hales, who returned voluntarily to Bristol on Tuesday to give further evidence to police about the incident, nor Stokes were selected for Wednesday’s sixrun win over West Indies in the fourth one-day international at The Oval that gave England an unbeatable 3-0 series lead.

Stokes’s finger injury may well have meant he was physically unfit for selection in any case.

Stokes, potentially just one on-field offence away from a Test ban under the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct, is seen as vital to England’s chances of retaining the Ashes, with former England captain Michael Vaughan, saying: “I don’t think England can win in Australia without Ben Stokes.”