It’s ten weeks since the then-England-vice-captain Ben Stokes had his punch-up outside a Bristol tavern in the early hours of the morning.
He was arrested and spent the rest of the night behind bars.
The arrest sheet was for allegedly punching another tavern drinker.
CCTV footage had Stokes – or at least someone who looked an awful lot like him – landing 15 punches in a minute. But it’s taken the Avon and Somerset police ten weeks to hand their findings to a higher authority to decide if any charges will be laid.
What a farce.
The Avon and Somerset police must be the only ones in England who have no idea there’s an Ashes series on, and Stokes is a key player.
Former England skipper Andrew Strauss, the Director of Cricket, suspended Stokes until the police decision on charges, but Stokes was the only one who showed any vision whatsoever by high-tailing to his birthplace – Christchurch, New Zealand – to visit his family.
Not only was he away from the Strauss suspension, but Canterbury is quite happy to play him in a limited-overs game this weekend.
Not only will Stokes get a game for the first time in ten weeks thanks to police doddering, but he’s 20 hours closer to joining the England team if Strauss lifts his suspension.
And England sure need him.
If the higher authorities also dither on possible charges, it’ll be months before the case is heard, and the Ashes will be done and dusted.
(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
So it all boils down to what the obvious original decision should have been with Ben Stokes on the Heathrow departing plane for Perth with his teammates.
But there’s no doubt Stokes, at 26, is running out of discipline rope.
He’s been a first-class cricketer since he debuted for Surrey at 18, so he’s never known anything but cricket since he left school.
Having a wallet stuffed with high denomination notes, and plenty of spare time to hardly make a dent in those notes led to the obvious shortcomings.
In 2011, he made his drinking debut versus police in Durham, in 2013 he was sent home from an England Lions tour of Australia for flouting tour drink rules. In 2014, he smashed his locker door after being run out first ball in Antigua, fracturing his hand, and was sent home.
And in 2016, he was threatened with jail time if he broke the speed limit again in the next six months.
Throw in umpire warnings after on-field clashes with Marlon Samuels, Virat Kohli, and Sabbir Rahman, and Stokes is a firebrand who does not learn from his mistakes.
There have been calls to rub him out of the game altogether, but it would be better for everybody if he suddenly grew up and consistently played the elite all-round cricket he’s very capable of playing.
The Australians did that with Ricky Ponting early in his career when he freely admitted he had a drinking problem.
Ponting was dropped three times after big nights out, but to his credit, he turned the corner to play a huge role in Australian cricket, especially as captain.
In 2013, David Warner punched Joe Root in an early morning drinking fracas in England and was dropped.
The Warner of today has become a world-class cricketer, and vice-captain of his country – he too has changed from a volatile cricketer to an ambassador.
It’s up to Ben Stokes to do the same, or buy a fish and chips shop.
Mitcher
Guest
World longbow champion.
Alan
Guest
Two points David: 1) I wouldn't condemn anyone for having a run in with either Samuels or Kohli; and 2) My favourite story of Ricky Ponting being dropped was when he was dropped in the Bourbon and Beefsteak in Kings Cross. That one still gets me chuckling.
El Loco
Roar Rookie
Too right jameswm, not a difficult decision at all for a grown man I would've thought.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Didn't he play in South Africa at some point? Surely that would entitle him to play for the England side
HB
Guest
Yes, Chris, that was my point. The return of the messiah Stokes will not suddenly transform the English team into an Ashes-winning powerhouse; it will turn a mediocre team into an ok team.
Steve
Guest
I'm Australian and even I can accept him as English, he just needs to clean up his act.
nick
Guest
David, I would contrast your views with those of Malcolm Knox here: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/the-ashes-cricket-and-the-ecb-have-lost-sight-of-what-ben-stokes-did-in-bristol-20171201-gzwlmt.html
Fox
Roar Guru
The series will be better if Stokes plays anyway. One way or another he will breathe some life into the series thank god- assuming he will clearly be coming over for the 3rd test as predicted. England are missing their star kiwi all rounder ;)
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
You really are like a little old woman knitting at the gallows Chris. The CPS exists to remove the decision to prosecute or otherwise from the police. The fact they have presented findings to the CPS does not determine ‘he has a case to answer’. That is precisely what the CPS decides.
Howzat !
Guest
"The Avon and Somerset police must be the only ones in England who have no idea there’s an Ashes series on......" Now that surely does read as though sport overrules policing procedure.
Linphoma
Guest
Regardless Chris and everyone, can you imagine any other sporting team/franchise/national body permitting the player to enjoy official standing (I believe he is suspended but that ECB has given Canterbury a NOC) while investigations are still proceeding? That footage is pretty damning. I have seen worse but that was in a day long ago before CCTV caught you picking your nose in an alleyway. And Canterbury entertaining and agreeing to enjoy his services in some cameos over the coming days? Does Christchurch need the English press accommodation that much? Let me think ... ah, maybe some Third World soccer league would run by a dictator would play a convicted murderer but seriously.... Why would you put yourself to ridicule and public embarrassment by sending him to join the tour if you were the ECB? Yes to win cricket matches, but we are talking about something just slightly bigger than that. Strauss has no decision to make - the footage decided that for him. Ben Stokes should not tour this time, shouldn't even be playing for Canterbury or anyone until the process of law has reached an outcome. He's on a central contract so he is not experiencing any immediate financial loss (sponsorship and other deals not withstanding), and the seriousness of the accusations (PLUS THE FOOTAGE) should ensure he is idle from all professional activities. Let's have the day in court and then talk about Ben Stokes future.
Linphoma
Guest
We are talking about the ECB here - the people who brought you Bodyline, not the people who brought the mantra better people make better All Blacks.
David Lord
Expert
Crap comment AR, Stokes is innocent until proved guilty, it's as simple as that and until that time he should be allowed to play,
jameswm
Roar Guru
I don't see it as a tough choice for Strauss at all. He has to draw a line in the sand, and sway we need better people, not just good cricketers. He has to say there are basic standards you need to adhere to if you want to play for England. And all the senior players have to buy into this. That's what the ABs did.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yep - if police have handed it to the prosecutors, it looks like Stokes will have a case to answer, and I'd say that means no Ashes. David is right - it's time for him to grow up.
David Lord
Expert
You sure aren't a madmonk, but a very sensible monk. I'd venture to say the same Avon and Somerset police would have solved many murders inside 10 weeks, it's an inordinate amount of time. As for the Australian Border Force, Ben Stokes is innocent until proved guilty, and unless he's in court and found guilty which could be months away, he should be available to play in the Ashes until that time. But the other point I made is just as pertinent. Unless he pulls his head in and starts behaving like a responsible person, he doesn't deserve to be an elite cricketer, so that honour should be denied him. Ben Stokes' biggest enemy is Ben Stokes.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Jordan, I believe HB's comment is more to do with talking about Stokes being such a vital player for England, not about the offense as such. If Watson was out of the side would we be talking about it like we desperately needed him to return to have any chance to win in the way people are talking about Stokes. I think that's more his point. That the answer would be more that he's an okay player, but one we can do without, and we definitely don't let him off with little more than a slap on the wrist for something like that because we need him so desperately.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
If something similar to that happened, but without the significant injury and the police let them off without charges and it was a less central member of the team, you can bet such a player would have been suspended for at least half-a-dozen tests almost straight away even without charges. The idea that should he escape charges that would be the end of it and he should be back in the team asap is a crazy one really. I certainly understand KP's comments though, it's a ridiculously tough call for Stauss. He'd really want a player committing an offense like this to have a pretty significant suspension I'd suspect. But because it's one of their top players who makes such a difference to the overall balance of the side, making that call instantly weakens their test team. So making the call between those two things is a tough one. I find it hard to see how he gets out of being charged for this. The only way I see that is as a sportsman getting special dispensation. I'd be surprised if he saw any prison time even if he gets charged. I'm sure he'd have a good lawyer that would do some sort of plea deal that would include a fine, a good behaviour bond / suspended sentence, and some community service, or something like that. But charges should definitely be laid for that. He had his own mates there yelling at him to stop continually, but he kept throwing punches, despite nobody throwing any back at him throughout the entirety of that video. Whatever happened earlier, by the point the video was taken he was just laying into people who weren't actually fighting back at that point.
madmonk
Guest
If a kiwi was convicted of that offence in Australia he'd do some time then be on the next plane back across the ditch. I dont know how UK immigration works but I hope he has renounced his Kiwi citizenship.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
"Someone who young English children might idolise". Unless, presumably, they have a disability.