‘Brawl boy’ cleared to play
CRICKET fans are baffled about why Ben Stokes was cleared to play for England two days after he was charged with affray.
The star all-rounder was banned from the recent Ashes tour as England bosses waited to see if he would have to face a court over an alleged fight outside a nightclub on September 25.
But just 48 hours after prosecutors decided to press charges – leaving Stokes facing a possible jail sentence – the ban was lifted yesterday.
No date has been set for a court hearing.
And as Stokes, 26, plans to contest the charge, he will almost certainly face a criminal trial later this year.
The England and Wales Cricket Board said that the uncertainty over a possible trial date had led to the lifting of the ban.
In a statement, they said: “It would not be fair, reasonable or proportionate for Ben Stokes to remain unavailable for a further indeterminate period.”
But cricket fans were confused by the logic of banning Stokes when he had not been charged but clearing him to play when he could be facing jail. BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker said: “Can’t quite get my head around this Ben Stokes thing. Not allowed to play cricket when under investigation but fine when charged! Smells like an almighty ECB cop-out.” An England supporter tweeted: “Bit of a joke. Unavailable for selection without a charge. Available when charged with affray. Okay then.” And another fan added: “Surely can’t be the only one confused”. Stokes has been charged alongside Ryan Hale, 26, and Ryan Ali, 28, over the alleged late-night brawl in Bristol. A man was left with a fractured eye socket after a disturbance close to the city’s Mbargo nightclub, which is popular with students. The three men are due to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court for a preliminary hearing, but as Stokes will plead not guilty the case is likely to go to the crown court. Alex Hales, 28, who was with Stokes at the time of the incident, was not arrested but was interviewed under caution by police. He was told in December that he would face no criminal charges. Despite Stokes’s legal troubles, the ECB ruling means he is now eligible for selection for England’s upcoming tour of New Zealand.