We have to sort Stokes future soon
DIRECTOR of England Cricket Andrew Strauss is keen to see Ben Stokes’s future resolved as the national side down to the Ashes.
The squad are in Australia without Stokes ahead of their defence of the urn this month.
Stokes remains in England waiting to hear if police will charge him after his arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm in Bristol on September 25.
The 26-year-old was released under investigation and England coach Trevor Bayliss has ruled out his involvement in the Ashes, with Strauss eager to see a resolution.
Former England skipper Strauss said: “The situation in a word is complicated. There’s two different potential disciplinary procedures he has to go through, one is the ECB’s own internal one and the other is any potential police action.
“Until we know more from the police it’s very hard for us to put a timeline on anything.
“What we all want is clarity on what that situation is and how much cricket he will be missing for England. We’re keen to get into that and move this forward but we’re in the hands of the police.
“Ben has been and is developing into a world-class cricketer.
“The fact he’s not out there at the moment is a blow to the England team.”
England begin the defence of the Ashes in Brisbane on November 23 and opened their tour with a draw against a Western Australia XI at the weekend.