Ben Stokes ‘keen to get back to cricket’ after being acquitted over club row
All-rounder Ben Stokes was recalled to England’s Test cricket squad just hours after being cleared of affray.
The 27-year-old could regain his place for Saturday’s third Test at Trent Bridge after missing the win at Lord’s because of his trial.
But the England and Wales Cricket Board announced an independent Cricket Disci- pline Commission investigation into Mr Stokes and his teammate Alex Hales would resume. After being acquitted, Stokes thanked his wife, family, friends and teammates for their “unerring” support during “an 11-month ordeal”.
Stokes’ solicitor Paul Lunt said: “In addition to the extreme stress placed on Ben and his family by the trial, his intervention that night has already cost Ben the England vice-captaincy, his place on an Ashes tour and his place on a number of other England matches.
“The past 11 months have served to highlight to Ben just how highly he values his position as an England representative, both in terms of the privilege that role entails and the responsibilities that accompany it.
“Now that the trial is over, Ben is keen to get back to cricket being his sole focus.”
A jury at Bristol Crown Court took two hours yesterday to clear Stokes of affray. Before leaving court, Stokes shook the hand of co-accused Ryan Ali, who had also been acquitted.
The Crown Prosecution Service is facing criticism for its handling of the case. A judge rejected their attempts on the eve of the trial to charge Stokes with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Stokes accepted he had punched unconscious best friends Hale, 27, and Ali, 28, during the fracas in the early hours of 25 September last year in Bristol city centre.
He insisted he was acting in self-defence, or in the defence of others, when two gay men William O’connor and Kai Barry suffered homophobic abuse.
The all-rounder had “at least ten drinks” before the incident. Much of the incident and the build-up was captured on CCTV cameras.