On 23 November there will be a strong, talented and combative redhead walking onto the field for England.
It may have been the last flight Down Under, but his bags would have been picked up – boxing gloves and all – and whisked away to the Gabba to lighten his load.
I have no doubt Ben Stokes will play in the Ashes, and England’s chances of retaining the urn rest on his shoulders.
He’ll be ready for the war of the Ashes, as David Warner so imprecisely put it, but whether that’s being ready for conflict on or off the pitch, we shall see.
For a country that is so often quick to jump to the moral high ground in issues in cricket, England has dropped the ball when it comes to its management of the Stokes situation. English past players have been very quick to slam David Warner for dropping the bombshell that he may sledge the Poms this summer, yet the England and Wales Cricket Board still have a seat on the plane for Stokes on standby should the all-rounder be cleared by police.
Let’s not hide from the truth. Stokes should have been suspended from the Ashes and dumped as vice-captain, especially after the footage emerged. Of course he is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but the footage of his Bristol brawl is damning.
But we shouldn’t be surprised by such a response from the English. There is no such thing as a spirit of cricket, especially not in the traditional home of the game.
Last year, I found myself playing a cricket season in England.
In the first game of the English season, I was struck by the inherent spirit that surrounds the English game when the old rustic bell was rung as the umpires walked onto the field, and both teams were applauded on.
(Image: AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
In the third over of that game, the number three nicked – or, for a better word, smashed – one to the keeper. He didn’t walk, and he was given not out. The next week, our captain blew up after nearly being a victim of the infamous ‘Mankad’. I could also swear that there was more dirt than fingernails underneath my mistimed cover drive to short cover when we were nine down still needing ten runs for victory.
The days of cricket being a gentleman’s game are long gone. To say it is a game played in an inherent spirit is fanciful and naive. It is a game dictated on the professional level by commercial interests and the desire to win.
If anything, the English governing body is worse than their park players.
For the ECB, England stands to lose far more than just the Ashes without Ben Stokes. With a team of relatively straight-bat, politically correct individuals, Stokes is England’s drawcard. People tune in when he bats, they watch when he bowls and they pay attention when he gets angry.
In the commercial and media world that cricket inhabits, spilt-over anger and aggression sell. How boring would the 2013 Ashes have been had Stuart Broad walked after edging a ball to first slip at Trent Bridge? The fact that Broad didn’t walk overshadowed the achievement of Ashton Agar’s 98 from number 11. Instead, the front pages belittled ‘Broad the Cheat’. The power of media.
Adding to this, Cricket Australia has its own media channel. It needs content to gain eyeballs, and during the offseason especially it needs stories. If a player gets in trouble, be it an Australian player or one overseas, that’s payday for cricket.com.au. The more viewers who click to read about Steve O’Keefe’s latest outburst, the greater the value of the advertising on the site.
It really is ‘not just cricket’; it’s media content.
If Stokes tours, imagine how many more newspapers will be sold. The backlash will send news media and social media alike into an uncontrolled frenzy, all the while generating more and more interest and content surrounding the traditional contest. In a featherhead division, if Warner hooks Root, there will be media meltdown.
But all eyes will be on blood nut Stokes. He will bat five, bowl first, and charge downwind.
Bring on the Ashes, blood sport at its finest.
HammerMarshall
Guest
Yes David Warners " imprecise" comments included " hating" the opposition, and his wife weighed in on channel 9's sunday show, apparantly calling Stokes street fight disgusting. There were no positive comments in the SMH report with many many likes for the 11 comments all calling out the hypocrisy or her comments, claiming" David wasnt even charged, only 2 game suspension ".....(they closed the comments off quickly in fact) Most other ICC countries would have sent a player home for that nightclub incident. The Ashes series is probably the last bastian of great test cricket and may i remind cricket lovers a part within the preamble to The Laws of Cricket as to how our great game should be played.....Respect is central to the Spirit of Cricket. Respect your captain, team-mates, opponents and the authority of the umpires. Play hard and play fair. Accept the umpire’s decision. Create a positive atmosphere by your own conduct, and encourage others to do likewise. Show self-discipline, even when things go against you. Congratulate the opposition on their successes, and enjoy those of your own team. Thank the officials and your opposition at the end of the match, whatever the result I say that if Ben Stokes comes to play we may see the emergance of another " Botham " type player who could turn a test match in an hour and a half . Even the great Sir Ian Botham was bit naughty and immature when younger , like Warner and Stokes , but he has now given back through charity work and is a great commentator also.
Paul
Roar Guru
Your comments about Stoked sum up the situation exactly. The guy should be facing some serious gaol time based on that video footage.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Those "two one-day games" were during the Champions Trophy, aka only behind the World Cup in ODI significance. Plus the two tour matches, which equaled a month of cricket. So yes, it wasn't three test matches, but it was a very significant penalty that was applied immediately after the incident. Please tell me you're not serious. A) The size difference? So? One punch vs an attempted beatdown, you really think that's the same thing? B) That's extremely presumptuous of you, I personally thought Warner was pretty lucky to not miss any tests. Am I still a "hypocrite"? C) "Hasn't brought the game into disrepute". What? Who cares what anyone else has done, that's irrelevant; the England VC has gone out and gotten into a late-night brawl, and you're telling me that's not bringing the game into disrepute? Why don't we want him to play? Because he's blatantly committed a serious criminal offence, that's why.
James
Guest
Warner was fined 11 grand and didnt play in 2 one dayers nor in tour matches against Somerset and Worcestchire. How is that three test matches? And how exactly was it nothing compared? It wasnt as bad but Warner is built like a tank and Root is built like a child. I guarantee that everyone on here that is calling for Stokes to be lynched thought that Warners punishment was harsh. Dont be so hypocritical or if you are at least own it and say that you really think Stokes should be punished because he is a good cricketer and he is English just as the English fans would have been saying the same thing about Warner. Stokes got into a fight, a fight where he wasnt the first to throw a punch though he did continue trying to fight after the other guys stopped throwing punches which is very wrong and he absolutely should be punished for. Stokes hasnt bought the game into disrepute, thats been done by lots of other guys so its not like what he did is that unique. I dont get why anyone would want an Ashes without Stokes, you always want the best players playing. Hope he does play otherwise it could be a boring Ashes, punish him like Warner was, in meaningless games and the opening test.
Ouch
Guest
Yeh agree Chris. It is impossible for the ECB to wriggle out of this. Ben Stokes was the English vice-captain. There is nothing at all they can do to justify his selection. As you say, once the criminal proceedings are finished with, then the cricket sanctions will be applied. I'm not at all au fait with the English legal system but i imagine the punishment for assault would be similar to here so it could result in gaol time. Can any English posters enlighten me?
George
Guest
Well said Chris. Unlike others, you don't expect the ECB to have handed out a suspension ahead of legal proceedings which take precedence.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
There is an inherent conflict in the fact that the same people who are charged with determining whatever cricket related punishment Stokes should serve are the same people trying to select the best team to win the Ashes for England. But nonetheless, it's hard to see how they can justify getting stokes in for any of the Ashes. The Warner / Root incident was nothing compared to this, and he still got a suspension that equated to something like 3 tests. Stokes surely has to be rubbed out for at least the entirety of the Ashes. I suppose the big difference here is that there is an ongoing police investigation, while there was nothing there, so CA could quickly dole out a punishment. While the police investigation is still ongoing it's probably not unreasonable that it just remains a "suspension until further notice". But in the end it will probably come down to if he has to face actual criminal charges or if he can get off that and only have to face cricket related sanctions. I can imagine that even if he faces criminal charges he's likely to get off with a fine, a suspended sentence, community service or the like. It's unusual for high profile sportsmen like that to ever face actual jail time for this sort of offence. But significant cricket related sanctions, definitely.
Damo
Guest
I'm not sure how the justice system works in the UK but that footage is pretty damning and I'd be surprised is Stokes is even allowed to leave the country given the court appearance that will likely be required.
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
I get your message about outrage bringing clicks. At the same time, we expect our sporting bodies to discipline their players when they step out of line. They know the power those players have as role models and they should respect that and act accordingly. Stokes and Hales were banned indefinitely for the punchup and as far as I know that ban has not been lifted. If that still applies come Ashes time, that's a bonus for Australia. If not, the Aussies will have to deal with what he serves up on the field. They should all stop yapping about it... and get on with their prep.
Jake
Guest
"For a country that is so often quick to jump to the moral high ground in issues in cricket, England has dropped the ball when it comes to its management of the Stokes situation. English past players have been very quick to slam David Warner for dropping the bombshell that he may sledge the Poms this summer" Says it all. It will be a farce if Stokes plays. Along with india, there are no bigger hypocrites in the game of cricket than the poms. Quick as a flash to point out faults in others but never take responsibility for their own actions. If stokes plays he will cop it large from the crowd and he deserves every single bit of it. Maybe Immigration Minister Dutton will deem him 'of unsuitable character', which he is.