BEN BANNED FOR ‘FIGHT’

BEN STOKES’S Ashes winter appears to be in jeopardy after England suspended him and Alex Hales from all future international matches until further notice.

The England and Wales Cricket Board yesterday announced the pair will not be considered for selection after the governing body saw video footage that allegedly shows Stokes throwing punches in a street fight.

Test vice-captain Stokes, who was selected in England’s Ashes squad on Wednesday, was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm after disorder in the Clifton Triangle area of Bristol in the early hours of Monday morning.

The 26-year-old was released without charge later that day but has remained under investigation by Avon & Somerset Police – while Hales returned voluntarily to Bristol on Tuesday to provide further evidence about the incident.

In a statement the ECB said: “Ben and Alex will not be considered for selection for England international matches until further notice.

“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.

“Andrew Strauss, director of England Cricket, will today refer the internal disciplinary procedure for these two players to the Cricket Discipline Commission.

“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.”

Stokes’s status as vice-captain, as well as his Ashes prospects, appear to be under threat.

New details of reported events also emerged courtesy of journalist and TV presenter Piers Morgan.

Morgan claimed in a series of Twitter posts that Stokes found trouble when he went to the aid of two gay men who were subjected to homophobic abuse.

He wrote: “I’m hearing Ben Stokes intervened to help two gay guys who were being abused by yobs, one of whom was armed.”