Court will decide on Stokes’ bid to fly out

BEN STOKES tomorrow finds out if he will be able to go to England’s rescue as they limp towards their second tour of a taxing winter. Stokes is due at Bristol Magistrates’ Court for his first appearance after being charged with affray and is hoping to be allowed to fly to New Zealand immediately after it. Controversially, the ECB gave him the green light to resume playing international cricket as soon as he was charged for his role in a fight outside a Bristol nightclub in September that cast a cloud over a doomed Ashes campaign. But his hopes of playing in the New Zealand leg of a Twenty20 triseries, that has started with two losses in Australia, were dashed by his summons to appear tomorrow. Magistrates will decide if Stokes, who has indicated he will plead not guilty, should be tried in the Crown Court and then set a date for his next appearance. Whether he needs to be there as the case continues will decide if he can go.