Stokes will still have Ashes place

BEN Stokes’ arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm put England’s Royal London Series plans in disarray but appears highly unlikely to affect his Ashes place.

Key all-rounder Stokes and opener Alex Hales, who voluntarily returned to Bristol to provide evidence on the disorder in which a man suffered facial injuries, both missed practice at The Oval and will be unavailable as England bid for a 3-0 lead in the fourth match of five against West Indies.

England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss also drove to speak to Stokes in Bristol where the Test vicecaptain was released under investigation - without charge on Monday evening.

On his return to London, Strauss insisted Stokes’ situation will not disturb England’s plans to announce their much-anticipated Ashes squad - in which he still appears a certain inclusion this morning, two hours before Eoin Morgan’s team take the field.

Stokes’ availability up until the end of the Ashes is thought to be assured even if he is charged, although England will also hold their own investigations into what happened.

The 26-year-old (above) found trouble in the early hours of Monday morning, having helped England go 2-0 up in Bristol the previous day.

Strauss gave a brief interview, in which he spelled out plans to name the Ashes tour party remain in place.

“The selectors have been instructed to select the Ashes squad based on form and fitness,” he said, shortly after an ECB statement explaining Hales’ and Stokes’ absence from nets. It read: “Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will not be available for the one-day international match against West Indies at The Oval.”