‘I can’t wait to wear Three Lions again’
Stokes recalled by England despite affray charge but ECB accused of double standards
Ben Stokes last night spoke of his delight at being allowed to resume his international career but it emerged that his recall was partly because the England and Wales Cricket Board feared being sued for restraint of trade if he remained on suspension indefinitely.
Stokes was yesterday cleared to play for England again and is expected to join the team in New Zealand next month for the second half of a Twenty20 tri-series which includes Australia. England then play a five-match one-day international series and a two-test series in New Zealand. Stokes’s first game is expected to be against New Zealand in Wellington on Feb 13. Before that he will return to Canterbury, the New Zealand provincial side for whom he played in December.
“Representing my country is one of the greatest things that I’ve ever been lucky enough to do, walking out on to the field with the England shirt on is a privilege and a honour,” Stokes said on Twitter last night. “I’m extremely delighted to be given this opportunity to do this again. Can’t wait to get back out on a pitch with the 3 Lions on my chest and feeling that pride that we all get and giving everything for the team.”
The ECB’S executive board made its decision over the course of several teleconference calls as chairman Colin Graves is on holiday in New Zealand. There was disagreement among the 14 members over the way forward. But, once they heard legal advice, the senior executive of Graves, Tom Harrison and Andrew Strauss were unanimous that Stokes should be made available for selection.
There was also pressure from the team management. He retains the strong support of coach Trevor Bayliss, Test captain Joe Root and is a popular member of the team. The ECB will be accused of double standards for suspending him when he was not charged and then clearing him to play once the Crown Prosecution Service had decided he should stand trial for affray.
Stokes was originally arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm. But when the CPS this week charged him with the lesser offence of affray, the board’s stance softened. When he said in a statement on Tuesday that he intended to fight to “clear my name”, it signalled he would plead not guilty and opt for trial at Crown Court, which would further draw out the legal process. The ECB lawyers warned that it could take up to 18 months for the trial to reach Crown Court and that suspending him for that long might lead to legal action for restraint of trade by Stokes.
It would be financially costly to fight the case and the negative publicity it would attract, as well as the strain it would put on the relationship between the ECB and Stokes, were all concerns for the board. There was also a sense that it would be too harsh to suspend him for potentially 18 months, especially as innocence must be presumed.
The decision is a massive boost for Stokes and, as he said last night, he is desperate to make up for lost time. Bayliss is under pressure after the Ashes defeat and his team need Stokes. Not only does he balance the team as an all-rounder, his presence lifts the mood. Root needs Test wins as captain and having Stokes in New Zealand would boost their chances against a side who have a fine seambowling attack.
New Zealand also offers a lowkey return for Stokes, who should learn over the next few days the date of his first court appearance. It could delay his arrival in New Zealand but his legal team are in the process of establishing whether he would need to attend any preliminary hearings. Back on board: Ben Stokes is likely to rejoin England in New Zealand
England also believe he needs match practice to be ready for an international return, which is partly why he has not been sent out to Australia.
Bayliss said: “We’re happy he has been made available. We know why he wasn’t made available and we fully understand it. From my point of view it was about being out [in Bristol] when they were. Then with the incident and the footage, it was only right that those decisions were made. It is a complex situation. I wasn’t a part of the decision making. From the board’s point of view they’ve had long and detailed discussions about it and it is not an easy situation. Who knows how long this legal process will take? It could be six months or 12 months and that would certainly be over the top I think.”
The ECB decision will have enormous financial implications for Stokes. It is a sign of support from the governing body just as he enters the Indian Premier League auction on Saturday week. IPL sources had been quoted over the past few days that his uncertain legal position might put off potential buyers.
The franchises will now feel reassured he could be the first player to break the £2 million barrier at the auction in Bangalore. He had a brilliant first IPL season last year and all-rounders are the most prized assets.
The ECB said in a statement: “Following a full board discussion, in which all considerations were taken into account, it has agreed that Ben Stokes should now be considered for England selection. Given the CPS decision to charge him and two others with affray, confirmation of his intention to contest the charge and the potential length of time to trial, the board agreed that it would not be fair, reasonable or proportionate for Ben Stokes to remain unavailable for a further indeterminate period.”
Stokes still faces action from a Cricket Disciplinary Commission, but this will not sit until the conclusion of his criminal case. The CDC will decide whether he brought the game into disrepute for being arrested on England duty.