Stokes named in ODI team but still waiting for clearance
Ben Stokes has been included in England’s one day international squad for the series that follows the Ashes tests in Australia but the cricket allrounder is still sweating on a decision from prosecutors.
Stokes, who last Sunday started playing cricket with Canterbury in New Zealand, remains unavailable for internationals through suspension, but was named in a 16-man squad announced on Thursday.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is waiting to learn if he faces charges for a brawl out- side a Bristol club that left another man with a fractured eye socket.
The prosecutors’ decision will determine if Stokes’ suspension is over.
Stokes returned to New Zealand, his country of birth, in November and has since played two one day matches for Canterbury in the Ford Trophy.
His form has been scrappy after not playing cricket for about two months.
It appeared to be improving when on Wednesday he scored 34 off 41 balls and then, when bowling, returned figures of none for 39 from seven overs.
The England v Australia ODI series consists of five matches with the first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 14.
Despite naming him in the squad, England reaffirmed it will not settle on any form of punishment - nor contemplate Stokes’ return - until he is either charged or cleared over the Bristol brawl that left another man with a fractured eye socket.
‘‘I’ve got absolutely no idea. Still waiting for the police report,’’ coach Trevor Bayliss said, highlighting the immense uncertainty over the star’s availability.
‘‘Whenever he comes back that’s going to be a bit of a circus. Whether it’s any more of a circus than it’s already been, it’s hard to say,’’ Bayliss said.
‘‘If it happens, let’s just get on with it and take it on the chin.
‘‘I’m sure there will be a fair bit of scrutiny. We won’t know it actually until it comes along.
‘‘There’s been a fair bit of scrutiny that’s come along with it in the first five or six weeks.’’
England’s one-day captain Eoin Morgan is also in the dark.
‘‘We are still waiting to see what happens,’’ Morgan said.
‘‘He is obviously getting cricket under his belt, which is a really good decision ... given that he could potentially come back quickly.’’
Alex Hales, who was stood down by England’s board after being with Stokes during the incident in Bristol, will not face charges and has also been included in the ODI squad.
Hales may continue to pay some price though, with Bayliss indicating incumbents Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow will likely open when the series starts in Melbourne.
‘‘The two openers we had did very well and it would be difficult to go against [them],’’ Bayliss said.
‘‘We’ve got to take a decision but I think the best way is to go with the two guys who have taken over.
‘‘Hales has a bit to do to get back in the team.
‘‘I can’t see any changes there personally.’’
Bairstow, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Jake Ball are the only members of England’s test squad who will stay on for the ODI series.
Australia lead the five test Ashes series 2-0 after winning with the pink ball in Adelaide on Wednesday.