Let’s forgive and forget the two brawl boys
ALL in all, that turned into an expensive night out – and not only for those buying the drinks.
During the last 15 months the reputations of those involved as well as England cricket have been dragged through the courts and the dirt.
It has been a bad time for the sport, taking away from some excellent progress on the field.
Yet in drawing a firm line under the Ben Stokes and Alex Hales Bristol incident yesterday, the Cricket Discipline Committee got it spot on.
Cricket punishments were suspended or already served, there was suitable contrition and a substantial donation to charity.
All in all, it was the end of the matter. And good riddance.
Two charges were considered by the panel, the first relating to the brawl in the street that had already been dealt with by courts, in which Stokes was cleared of affray. Hales was never charged.
The second related to inappropriate images that circulated of the latter and an inappropriate video featuring Stokes that were either offensive, unseemly or both.
Both men expressed their regret at their actions in both cases but with Stokes having already missed an Ashes series and part of the India tour when he was on trial, not to mention losing sponsorship deals, it is right that this lingers no longer.
Likewise for Hales, his punishment of a four-match suspension, with two already served out and two suspended, is correct.
Some might argue that the sight of the pair back in action in the Caribbean, with Stokes a certainty and Hales highly likely to be named next Monday in squads to tour the West Indies, is similarly unseemly.
But, if selected, few in the party will be more minded, you would hope, to keep their noses clean and their hours early.
Both remain huge assets on the field with the World Cup on home soil and an Ashes to follow.
Stokes would not be human had he not let his career stumble and he has been dealing with the fallout of this sorry episode. Now he should go and show the world he can be one of the best rather than one of the best known.
Hales should set his heart, like he said he would in a penitent statement yesterday, on starring in the World Cup.
Both need to show they have learnt lessons from the sorry saga, which you would hope that they have, while the ECB should use them to educate young cricketers coming through.
All of them, and the game, need to move on.