WHAT NOW FOR STOKES?
LONDON: Ben Stokes is back in England’s test reckoning against India but must still wait to discover any further consequences following his affray acquittal.
England added its premier allrounder to a squad of 13 for the third test, which starts on Sunday, after he was cleared at Bristol Crown Court yesterday.
The England and Wales Cricket Board also confirmed within two hours of the end of the case that the cricket discipline commission investigation can reconvene into the behaviour of Stokes and teammate Alex Hales on a night out in Bristol last September.
That process was halted 11 months ago while criminal proceedings took precedence and will not resume imminently, allowing all parties and their advisers to consider what was put before the court over the past week.
The ECB clarified the latest situation in its statement soon after a jury unanimously cleared Stokes and codefendant Ryan Ali over events when a fight broke out in a street close to a Bristol nightclub.
It read: ‘‘Now that the legal proceedings have concluded, the disciplinary process for Ben Stokes and Alex Hales can be scheduled by the cricket discipline commission . . .
‘‘Considerable detail has been heard in this weeklong court case and, in due course, there will be a range of matters for the board to fully consider.’’
Last September, England ruled Stokes out of the remainder of the ODI series against West Indies and then the Ashes. He returned during the tour of New Zealand.
The 27yearold stayed in the team this (northern) summer, apart from a spell out with a hamstring injury, until he had to miss last week’s Lord’s test victory because of a clash with his court case.
He is now on course to help Joe Root’s team again as it bids to extend a 20 series lead over India, with three matches to play.
Stokes’s solicitor, Paul Lunt, in a statement read out after his client was cleared, said: ‘‘Now that the trial is over, Ben is keen to get back to cricket being his sole focus.’’
Stokes’ teammate, Jonny Bairstow, told Sky: ‘‘It has been a long 10 months for him and his family. I’m delighted and hope we can see him back in an England shirt very soon.’’
It is no given that will be this weekend despite Stokes’s return to a squad from which he was initially omitted the previous day.
It contains a winning team, in which his Lord’s understudy, Chris Woakes, put in a manofthematch performance and fel low allrounder Sam Curran also consolidated his position.
Stokes’ county club Durham, meanwhile, issued a oneline confirmation that he will not be available for its Vitality Blast fixture on Friday, at a time when he will instead be preparing with England in Nottingham.
There was a further statement from the Professional Cricketers’ Association, pledging ongoing support as required by Stokes and Hales. — BPA