Ben Stokes’ fading Ashes prospects may hinge on the next stage of police investigations after England suspended him and Alex Hales from all future international matches until further notice.
The announcement came a day after Stokes, England’s highest-profile cricketer and vice-captain of the Test side, was named in the 16-man squad for the Ashes tour of Australia starting in November.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement that both Stokes and Hales remained on full pay pending further investigation into the incident in the early hours of Monday.
Stokes was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and then released without charge under investigation on Monday, but has remained under investigation ever since. Hales was with him at the time of the incident.
“Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will not be considered for selection for England international matches until further notice,” the ECB said.
“These decisions, fully supported by ECB chairman Colin Graves, were made following the release of footage viewed by ECB for the first time on Wednesday night.”
The Sun newspaper published footage of what it said was a brawl between the player and two other people, one clutching a bottle.
Media reports said Stokes, who suffered a minor fracture of a finger on his right hand, had apologised to the ECB for his arrest and described his state of mind as “fragile and devastated”.
Should the 26-year-old definitively be ruled out of the tour, it would be a huge blow for England whose chances of defending the Ashes in Australia have already been called into question.
The hosts whitewashed England 5-0 in 2013/14.
It will fall largely to coach Trevor Bayliss to ensure England set aside ongoing distractions – which, the Australian admits, are substantial.
Bayliss is no stranger to first-hand stress, having been caught up eight years ago in the deadly terror attack on the team bus in Lahore while he was coach of Sri Lanka.
Asked how tough he would describe the challenge of the past few days, the 54-year-old said: “It’s right up – it’s probably in the top two [in my cricket career], I would have thought.
“It’s very difficult for everyone involved.
“It’s something that obviously we didn’t want to go through, and hope we don’t go through again.”
Da Spoon
Guest
New Zealand?
Jan
Guest
What country did these 'convicts' come from!!!!!!!
Jan
Guest
Stokes is a new zealander
Rellum
Roar Guru
I think he is just tr..O...ling
DavSA
Guest
I had the good fortune some years ago to escort many of the Barmy Army supporters around my then home town Port Elizabeth . They were a fantastic bunch of guys and I still have communication with a few of them today . None that I came across reflected any attitude of arrogance or hostility. All that I came across at least would not have appreciated these type of comments. I do remember that they had very strict codes of conduct which they adhered to.
doogs
Guest
i agree. I don't care so much. Stokes is not my favourite dude but I would like him to be here to play in the Ashes. i want the Aussies to play the best team. Yet if Warner did this he would have been sent to the moon. Warner turned his life around. I hope Stokes does too.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I wonder a what point will the poms realise that calling us convicts means nothing to us. It creates a total of maybe one shoulder shrug in response. Or we just smile with pride.
W G GRACE
Guest
Nothing in it at all our old colonial convict whipping boys - Thrasher Stokes will be on the plane to the Colonial penal colony. England will retain the Ashes too - Barmy Army - Barmy Army -Barmy Army -England - England- England
DaSpoon
Guest
Seemed to give quite a good account of himself in the fracas. He should be proud of himself. It's a typical night out where I live. Don't know what all the fuss is about. Just a bunch of Aussies making a mountain out of a mole hil on here. Get a life.
Alan
Guest
Hi Chris I totally agree. BTW I have an excellent bridge with great harbour views, for sale in Sydney should you be looking for investment opportunities...
Alan
Guest
"honest, solid Englishmen" who follow cricket ? perchance?
Ouch
Guest
"Does everyone forget Warner punching Root!!!!!" No, how can we? Opponents are always ready to remind us. Come on. Warner punched him once. Stokes laid 15 punches and not one was thrown his way. He put the bloke in hospital. Warner was outed for 3 Ashes tests over that punch. Stokes is also vice captain of the English cricket side. One of the most prestigious jobs in England. Ben Stokes has a terrible disciplinary record, far worse than Warner who, apart from that incident has kept his head down. Stokes's reads like a rap sheet. If Stokes was an Aussie he'd be pilloried. The ECB is always finding excuses for him and he keeps behaving the same way. If the ECB have any integrity, they should keep him out of the Ashes side as well as prevent him from earning an easy million or so in the IPL and BBL.
Jumbo
Guest
Zero threat? He had just been waving a bottle about. In my experience blokes who pick up bottles are also the type to back away when confronted, but then hit you around the back of your head as soon as your back is turned. The lad had it coming, and I reckon any jury of honest, solid Englishmen will see that Stokes was acting in self-defence. Things might be different in nanny state Australia, but in the Old Country a man has a right to defend himself.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I'd say "IF" the whole story really is that these two were ready to attack two men because they were gay and Stokes intervened and a bottle was used as a threat at any point. Then Ben Stokes is a bloody legend and the bloke got EXACTLY what what was coming to him. People that glass/bottle people need a good flogging.
Simoc
Guest
He might be in prison as well being that he is assaulting a person. And not for the first time. Being a gutless wimpy Pom he will claim provocation. Then he'll arrive later as a convict ( if McDutton lets him in) to save the English cricket team and later be welcomed home as the first Convict to be wanted back from the colony (if they win a game). Unfortunately, Abbott & Dutton stayed here. The Poms always leave the dregs behind.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
punter - whole story is Stokes goes nuts after one of the guys was threatening/attempting to attack with a bottle.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Edward, Gay people or no gay people, hero or no hero, people who glass (read stab) someone in UK get years in jail in UK, not months. It is considered a very serious crime there. His pursuing the second man will be harder to overcome, but not insurmountable under the circumstances. Lets say there is no other evidence but this video. He saw someone being potentially disfigured for life, potentially losing an eye, potentially having an ear sliced off etc. Vigilantism is illegal but so's provocation. Does everyone forget Warner punching Root!!!!!
Sideline Commentator
Roar Guru
I've been asking myself this: what could possibly be in the 'whole story' that would make you think "oh well, yeah, that was justified then." I really can't think of anything.
punter
Guest
Not defending violence in anyway, but we should wait for the whole story. There was a guy, one of the alleged victims who seem to be brandishing a bottle or a glass around & you can hear the bottle hitting the ground when Stokes hit him.
Eddie Otto
Roar Guru
After that vision was released Stokes is 100/1 to be on the plane to Australia. It would be a circus if he was. The media would be all over it and the crowds would give Stokes hell. I think it's going to be a long old summer for England anyway. So they may as well set a few standards and hopes Stokes returns motivated and focused rather then the rash figure he is at the minute.