Cricketer arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm

England test vice-captain Ben Stokes was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm after an incident in Bristol, police and the team said.

The disorder that led to a man being hospitalised with facial injuries occurred hours after Stokes played in a oneday international victory over West Indies at the Bristol County Ground in south-west England.

Batsman Alex Hales, who was out with the 26-yearold Stokes after the match, returned voluntarily to Bristol yesterday to help police with 0 Ben Stokes is vice-captain of the England test cricket team the investigation, the England and Wales Cricket Board said.

Stokes and Hales were absent from practice yesterday and they will miss the fourth match in the fivematch ODI series against the West Indies today at The Oval in London.

The police force in Bristol said it was called to “disorder” on a city centre street at 2:35am on Monday. The incident reportedly happened at the Mbargo nightclub.

A 27-year-old man “suffered facial injuries and was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary for treatment”, Avon and Somerset Police said in an appeal for witnesses.

Asked about Stokes, the police force confirmed: “A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and has since been released under investigation.”