England off to Australia without star man Stokes

CRICKET: Vice-captain will not be going Down Under initially due to police probe

England depart for Australia tomorrow hoping to return in the new year having retained the Ashes, though it is a man who will not be on the flight that may hold the key.

Vice-captain Ben Stokes will not be one of the 16 players on the plane due to an ongoing police investigation, which opened after the all-rounder was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub last month.

He was released without charge but remains under investigation.

Stokes has not been ruled out of the five-match Test series, which begins in Brisbane on November 23, but is out of consideration for selection until further notice, and England will certainly be a stronger side should he be available Down Under.

The question is whether they can win without him, particularly in a country where their last Test contests ended in a 5-0 whitewash defeat.

It was on the last trip to Australia four years ago when Stokes made his Test debut during a series where he averaged more runs than any other England player and only Stuart Broad claimed more wickets.

With his match-winning capabilities, combined with ongoing doubts over the make-up of the team’s batting line-up, Stokes has to be seen as pivotal to England’s fortunes.

Moeen Ali believes they can still emerge victorious even without his fellow all-rounder, though.

“If he’s not there, then we’re going to have to play well without him,” said Moeen. “(But) I definitely feel we can still win.

“I think we all know how good a cricketer he is, and what he can bring to the table.

“He’s one of the main players we have, and it would be great to have him out there, but we’ll see what happens.”

Yet ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan, who knows what it is like to win an Ashes series, believes the hosts will be “clear favourites” if Stokes is not out there.

“I am sure Australia respect a lot of our players but the one they fear the most is not going to be there,” said Vaughan, speaking as a BT Sport pundit.

“I’ve not seen too many celebrations from the Australians but I am sure in private they have cracked open a few bottles of Penfold.

“If David Warner was injured next week and out of the Ashes I am sure you would find the England players celebrating.

“It is not disrespecting Alastair Cook but I would say Stokes is England’s second best player with the bat.

“With the ball he is erratic at times but he has an impact. In the field you know he will produce something.

“More importantly it is his mindset. I watch England walk out on the field and when Stokes is in the team they walk out two inches taller.

“If he is not there in Brisbane you would have to say the Australians are clear favourites to win the series.”

Picture: Getty. Ben Stokes will not be travelling with his England teammates while being investigated by police.