BEN’S BACK... FOR NOW
Stokes still faces England ban threat despite being cleared
BEN STOKES is clear to play for the rest of the summer after being found not guilty of affray at Bristol Crown Court – but still faces the threat of a suspension pending the result of an ECB disciplinary investigation.
Stokes, who missed the second Test against India at Lord’s as it clashed with his trial, was added to England’s squad for the third Test at Trent Bridge less than two hours after the verdict was returned.
It is understood all the major figures at the ECB – including chief executive Tom Harrison, stand-in director of cricket Andy Flower, national selector Ed Smith, Test captain Joe Root, above, and coach Trevor Bayliss – were consulted and agreed unanimously Stokes should be available for the match starting in Nottingham on Saturday.
Now the criminal case has concluded, the ECB’s internal probe into the conduct of Stokes and teammate Alex Hales in Bristol last September can begin. The ECB will focus on whether the pair brought the game into disrepute during a night out drinking while on England duty that ended in a street brawl, even though Hales was never arrested and Stokes successfully argued in court he was acting in self-defence. However, that internal probe – carried out by the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) – is expected to take weeks, with a verdict unlikely until the autumn. Given the five-Test series against India finishes in midSeptember, the way is now clear for Stokes to play for England for the rest of the summer, with team insiders certain he will be in the XI at Trent Bridge this weekend. An ECB spokesperson said: “Now 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 week-long court case and, in due course, there will be a range of matters for the board to fully consider.”
The CDC can ban players for any length of time deemed suitable and can impose unlimited fines for misconduct.
Stokes and Hales were both made “unavailable for selection” by the ECB following the incident in Bristol. The pair were left out of the final two matches of last summer’s ODI series against the West Indies, with Stokes also missing the entire Ashes tour of Australia.
Despite the ECB denying the notion that the all-rounder was suspended for the Ashes, his legal team might argue that Stokes has already missed more than four months of cricket.
The Professional Cricketers’ Association will assist Stokes and Hales during the disciplinary probe, with the players’ union saying: “We have been working with Ben and his legal team over the last 10 months and have provided our support throughout. The PCA will continue to provide that support to Ben and Alex Hales.” Although England thrashed India by an innings at Lord’s, there is no doubt Stokes strengthens the team, illustrated when he bowled the decisive spell of the first Test as England clinched a thrilling 31-run win.
Stokes received public support yesterday from team-mate Jonny Bairstow.
“I’m really happy the verdict has come out as it has,” he said. “It has been a long 10 months for him. Those kinds of ordeals are something that haven’t been taken lightly. I’m delighted and hopefully we can see him back in an England shirt soon.”