Trial strain could rule Stokes out of Trent Bridge Test
BEN STOKES’ ability to play in the third Test against India is in serious doubt, regardless of whether he is cleared of affray in the coming days.
The Durham all-rounder, and star of the first Test at Edgbaston, appeared exhausted on Friday having endured five days in court.
Despite seeming relaxed each morning when walking into Bristol Crown Court with his wife Clare, Stokes has now spent upwards of 25 hours inside courtroom one, including five unrelenting hours in the witness box.
On returning to the dock after he had finished giving evidence, he seemed drained as he rocked back in his seat, puffed out his cheeks and held his face in his hands. Earlier in the week he had been seen yawning, suggesting the trial had already taken its toll.
Stokes 27, is accused of knocking two men unconscious in the alleged brawl in Bristol last September. He denies the charge of affray.
Stokes’s future in the England team will depend not only on the verdict in his trial, but also the ruling of the independent Cricket Discipline Commission who are carrying out formal disciplinary proceedings against Stokes and Alex Hales — who was present on the night but is not facing criminal charges — and are due to hold a hearing after legal proceedings surrounding Stokes are complete. The ECB are set to make their position clear regarding Stokes’ future once a verdict is given.
Even if he is found not guilty, it seems possible that he may not be considered physically and mentally fit to play at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
The jury are unlikely to be dismissed to begin deciding on the verdict tomorrow, leaving open the possibility that the trial will not conclude until Wednesday or Thursday.
Although that would leave him time to join the squad, it is not clear whether it would be considered wise.
Stokes has appeared to show signs of physical discomfort throughout his time in court. At several points during his evidence he was granted permission by the judge to sit down due to suffering back pain from standing up for long periods. And during breaks in questioning he occasionally winced and tried to stretch.
In addition to any physical effects he might be feeling from being in court for more than five hours a day, anyone undergoing that must feel a degree of mental strain or pressure. During two hours of cross-examination on Friday he faced near-constant questioning, which likely felt more intense and unremitting than any spell of fast bowling he has faced at the crease.
While being questioned by Anna Midgley, barrister for co-defendant Ryan Ali, he had to fend off proverbial bouncer after bouncer. He was repeatedly accused of having been ‘mistaken’ when he alleged he heard ‘homophobic abuse’ being levelled towards a couple, and was pressed on why he could not remember a ‘single word’ that was used.
Stokes told the jury on several occasions that he was ‘very clear that the words used were homophobic abuse’.
He was then accused of having ‘Over-exaggerated the exchange… in an attempt to justify your own violent behaviour haven’t you?’ He told the jury: ‘No’.
When it was then put to him that he had ‘misrepresented to the jury, haven’t you?’, Stokes again replied ‘no’.
Later, when being questioned by prosecution barrister Nicholas Corsellis, Stokes was twice accused of ‘lying to the jury’. He told the jury both times: ‘I am not lying’.
On the issue of how much he had had to drink, Stokes admitted that he might have had more than 10 drinks. He denied claims that he was ‘really very drunk’, and in a written statement his teammate Jake Ball said he did not think Stokes was ‘drunk’.
The trial continues tomorrow.