Stokes dropped after arrest; Hales ignored
london — England have dropped Ben Stokes and Alex Hales from their side to play West Indies in the fourth ODI at The Oval on Wednesday following Stokes’s arrest, the England and Wales Cricket Board said Tuesday.
The duo have been made unavailable after key all-rounder Stokes, 26, was arrested in Bristol in the early hours of Monday morning following England’s 124-run win in the third ODI in the southwest city on Sunday.
Hales, 28 was with Stokes when the incident happened in the Clifton district of Bristol on Sunday night.
The Oval match takes place just hours after England are due to unveil their squad for the Ashes tour of Australia on Wednesday.
“Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will not be available for tomorrow’s one-day International match against West Indies at The Oval,” ECB director of England cricket Andrew Strauss said.
“Stokes was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning, 25 September, following an incident in Bristol,” the former England captain added.
Meanwhile a statement issued by Avon and Somerset police said: “We were called to a disorder in Queens Road, Clifton, at around 2:35am (0135 GMT) on Monday. “A 27-year-old man was found to have suffered facial injuries and was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary for treatment. “A 26-yearold man was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and has since been released under investigation. —