You’d have to be punch-drunk to think Stokes will be on England plane to Oz
BRITAIN’S BEST COLUMNIST ON ENGLAND’S BAD BOY
THE England and Wales Cricket Board have to tiptoe through a legal minefield... but let’s face it, Ben Stokes will not be playing in The Ashes.
In some, old-fashioned Australian quarters, it will be a supreme irony. They once loved a larrikin Down Under.
A larrikin is their term for a ‘boisterous, often badlybehaved young man, a mischievous, uncultivated, rowdy but good-hearted young person’.
That had been pretty much the perception of Stokes since he first emerged.
Their approach might have changed dramatically, but the Aussies have had a fair few larrikins in their gilded cricketing history.
Whatever the outcome of the police investigation into the events of the early hours of a Bristol Monday morning and, indeed, whatever the findings of cricket’s own disciplinary process, that perception will be challenged.
But it is not just about Stokes. Already, the ramifications have spread beyond the individual. They have spread to the England squad and its culture.
On Friday, Jonny Bairtsow, Liam Plunkett and Jake Ball were all fined and handed written warnings for ‘unprofessional conduct’.
That ‘conduct’ was not related to the incident being investigated, but Ball was pictured alongside Stokes and Alex Hales on that night out two weekends ago.
Ordinarily, Bairstow, Plunkett and Ball, might not have been sanctioned, but the ECB and its director of cricket, Andrew Strauss, are concerned that professional standards are not being met off the field.
Indeed, ex-england captain Michael Vaughan said he was told a story of Stokes being out in Manchester until 3am DURING a Test at Old Trafford in the summer.
Strauss, the successful former skipper, has been in favour of a laid-back atmosphere, but – behind the scenes – he doubtless feels his trust has been abused. The ECB is looking to broaden the sport’s family appeal and attract commercial investment. But they have to be ever-mindful of the police probe.
In announcing that Stokes, who has been awarded a new central contract, would not be on the plane to Australia on October 28, Strauss said: “We have spoken to Ben and assured him that our decision in no way prejudges the outcome of the ongoing police investigation or cricket discipline commission
process, as can be seen by the awards of central contracts.”
In other words, they are bending over backwards to make sure Stokes gets a fair hearing from all concerned.
He will not be flying with the squad because there is no chance both investigations will be complete by then.
So in theory, there is still the chance Stokes (above) may take part. It is a fanciful theory.
It goes without saying the players and the coaches would love him there. It goes without saying England’s chances of success are hugely diminished without him. But whatever the outcome of the Avon and Somerset Police inquiries and any subsequent independent Cricket Discipline Commission findings, Stokes will find a focus on his behaviour that is intense.
Strauss and the ECB will know this. Which is why, however the next few weeks pan out, Stokes will not be in Australia this winter.
Anyone here or Down Under who thinks otherwise is deluding themselves.