STOKES GETS ASHES PLACE DESPITE POLICE INVESTIGATION
▶ ECB cricket director Strauss expects all-rounder to recover from broken hand to be part of a 16-man squad for Australia tour, while Ballance and Vince are recalled
Ben Stokes has been included in England’s 16-man squad for the Ashes tour of Australia announced yesterday despite breaking his hand in the incident that led to his recent arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.
He was dropped for yesterday’s fourth one-day international against West Indies at The Oval after being arrested early on Monday in Bristol.
Stokes, 26, remains under investigation by police after being released without charge on Tuesday.
For the time being, he has retained his position of vice captain to Test captain Joe Root, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) director Andrew Strauss told reporters. “Ben did have an X-ray yesterday [Tuesday],” Strauss said.
“Early results are that he has got a minor fracture on his right hand.
“There are obviously more tests that need to be done, but the early indications are that he should be fit to play a full part in all the Ashes Test matches.”
The injury to Stokes’ right hand is said to have been sustained during a confrontation that left a man in hospital.
A police investigation is unlikely to be concluded before England leave for Australia on October 28, meaning the incident could hang over Stokes for the whole tour.
England one-day international regular Alex Hales – an Ashes longshot who did not make the Test squad – was also left out of yesterday’s match after being with Stokes during the Sunday night incident.
The pair could be among several players who face ECB action.
“What I am doing is speaking to the players individually to get their accounts of what went on,” Strauss added.
“They may be subject to disciplinary proceedings including Ben.
England’s squad contained three uncapped players in 23-year-old Somerset fast bowler Craig Overton, leg-spinner Mason Crane of Hampshire and Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.
Crane, 20, will provide support to Moeen Ali while Foakes, 24, has been included as cover for Jonny Bairstow. Meanwhile there were recalls for batsmen James Vince and Gary Ballance despite the pair’s struggles during their previous stints in the Test side.
Vince was dropped at the end of the 2016 English season northern summer following a poor run of seven Tests that saw him post a top score of 42 in 11 innings against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Ballance only managed 85 runs in two Tests against South Africa at an average of 21.25 before he suffered a fractured finger.