It’s two months since England’s vice-captain Ben Stokes was arrested at 2.35 on a Monday morning after an altercation outside a Bristol nightclub.
Stokes spent the rest of the day in custody after a 27-year-old man was hospitalised with facial injuries.
The ECB stepped in and suspended Stokes until the police investigation was finalised, and he missed England’s final two ODIs against the West Indies.
Seeing there was video evidence of the fight, it’s fair to ask why the Avon and Somerset police have taken two months to make a decision – with Stokes a vital part of England’s Ashes campaign.
Stokes fractured his hand in the fight, but there’s been time enough to heal.
England has been in Australia for three weeks, with the first Test at the Gabba beginning on Thursday – but still no Stokes.
Reports there will be a police decision sometime this week is conjecture.
The last Test Stokes played was against the Windies at Lord’s in late September, where he was man of the match with 60 and a career-best 6-22, England winning by six wickets.
He’s been capped 39 times as a genuine all-rounder of the Ian Botham mould, only Stokes is a thumping left-handed batsman with a top score of 258 blazed against South Africa at Cape Town in January last year off only 198 deliveries with 30 fours and 11 sixes.
(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
There’s no-one in the England touring party capable of such a slaughter, with his 95 wickets at 33.93 a bonus.
One thing for sure, if Stokes does rejoin his teammates, he will be on thin ice.
He’s England’s loose cannon.
Stokes was arrested in 2011 for obstructing police, and in 2013 was sent home from the England Lions tour of Australia for breaking curfew with late-night drinking.
And he missed the World Twenty20 tournament in 2014 after breaking his hand punching his dressing room locker after a series of poor performances.
But Stokes has genuine all-round talent, and plenty of it.
He will make a huge difference to England’s Ashes campaign if his suspension is lifted.
Could that come this week?
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Yes; well, losing James Faulkner isn't much of a loss, so the ARU could afford to be 'tough'. When Warner took a swing at Joe Root (presumably the lightest bloke he could find) for no reason and lied about the circumstances afterwards he received a two-match ban didn't he? The situation with Stokes is entirely dependent on whether the Police move to prosecution.
JimmyB
Guest
Tosh? How very dare you? That was some of my finest work. Stokes is coming for you Australia, mark my words, he's coming for you! He's read all of the mean things that have been written about him and he's not happy Jan! Lock up your kids, lock up your parents, lock up...I'm sort of running out of steam here In all seriousness, he's not going to play any part in the Ashes, mores the pity.
nick
Guest
Ha. JimmyB - there's no need to react to a reasoned, logical comment with tosh. There is plenty of evidence of that young Mr. Stokes is anger prone, to put it mildly. If he doesn't pull his head in, he'll end up without a career. Cricket Australia would have given an Australian player a stiff ban, at least, and made it very clear that said player in the last chance saloon. Cast your mind back to Andrew Symonds having his career sawn off for a case in point. To be clear, I'd have preferred Stokes wasn't such a turkey so that Australia could beat England's best team fair and square. I'll look forward to the ECB acting with integrity and with Stoke's long term future in mind.
JimmyB
Guest
Nick, what's that round the back there?...oh it's your knickers getting in a bunch. I do so love all the piety we are hearing from Australian fans, I mean, will someone just think of the children, please? FYI, Stokes is already in Australia, he'll be playing at the Gabba!
nick
Guest
Of course Australia would. Look at what happened to James Faulkner. Sorry James, but doubling down on bad behaviour will backfire, as hard as that may be for you to swallow.
James
Guest
Thats so bollocks, any country would do exactly the same as what England are doing look for the lowest possible punishment. You cannot honestly think Australia would handle it any differently.
nick
Guest
The English would lose any recourse to the moral high ground if Stokes does play any part in the series. It's simple. Clearly, if this evidence had surfaced of an Australian player in this day and age, he would already have had his contract torn up already. The ECB's stance has been quite gormless. A ban for one year at least, would have been imposed upon an Australian player acting half as badly. By playing Stokes during the Ashes, England will actually be doing themselves a disservice. Firstly, a perceived sense of injustice would further galvanize the local side and supporters. Secondly, they'd be introducing a player, without form, into a heated contest, who only has one "spirit of cricket" point left pending an imposed bad from the game, Stokes will be goaded, needled and incited to respond endlessly, both on and off the field. He clearly doesn't have the temperament to respond in a positive manner. His record is evidence of a troubled character. The best thing for him would be to sit this one out and try to change his attitude completely or he'll soon be hot water again and next time, perhaps the ECB won't have a choice but to ban him from the game - which would be a shame. The way to look at Stokes is not through the short term prism of this series but his long term career - what happens if he gets in trouble again?
James
Guest
I know right! And its not like Australia Cricket would ever behave in a similar way and back premier players and downplay any incident, say if two of their players knew a guy called John and he was a bookmaker.
matth
Guest
What is Ben Stokes future? Pub bouncer springs to mind.
Ouch
Guest
"He will make a huge difference to England’s Ashes campaign if his suspension is lifted." What suspension? A few meaningless ODI games against the West Indies? The ECB haven't even bothered to fine him. I find it hard to believe that England will allow stokes to play. He is (was) the vice-captain of that most uniquely English of sporting teams, the cricket team. How they can justify his inclusion (if they do include him) boggles the mind. The most spinning-est of spin doctors couldn't spin his way out of this one. It will highlight a lack of integrity and spine if the ECB allow him back on the field. The guy is a serial offender.