After fight, arrest and fracture, Stokes makes Ashes squad
London, September 27
Ben Stokes was included in England’s 16-man squad for the Ashes tour of Australia announced Wednesday despite breaking his hand in the incident that led to his recent arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm. Durham all-rounder Stokes was dropped for Wednesday’s fourth ODI against West Indies at The Oval — the venue for the Ashes squad announcement — after being arrested early on Monday in Bristol.
Stokes, 26, remains under investigation after being released without charge. For the time being, he has retained his position of vice-captain to Test skipper Joe Root. “Ben did have an X-ray yesterday (Tuesday),” said England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) cricket director Andrew Strauss. “Early results are that he has got a minor fracture on his right hand. There are obviously more tests that need to be done, but the early indications are that he should be fit to play a full part in the Ashes.”
The injury to Stokes’ right hand is believed to have been sustained during a confrontation that left a man in hospital. A police investigation is unlikely to be concluded before England leave for Australia on October 28, meaning the incident could hang over Stokes for the whole tour.
Moreover, Stokes is just one on-field offence away from incurring a potential two-Test ban under the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct.
England ODI regular Alex Hales — an Ashes long-shot who did not make the Test squad — was also left out of Wednesday’s match after being with Stokes on Sunday night. The pair could be among several England players who face the ECB action, with Strauss saying: “What I am doing is speaking to the players individually to get their accounts of what went on. They may be subject to disciplinary proceedings including Ben.”
Strauss is the last England captain to win the Ashes in Australia in 2010/11.
England named three uncapped players in 23-year-old Somerset fast bowler Craig Overton, 20-year-old Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane, who will provide support to Moeen Ali, and Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, 24, included as cover for Jonny Bairstow. The first match in the upcoming five-Test Ashes series is set to start in Brisbane on November 23.
Squad: Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, Dawid Malan, Gary Ballance, James Vince, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Ben Foakes, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Jake Ball, Mason Crane, Craig Overton . — AFP
The injury to Stokes’ right hand is believed to have been sustained during a confrontation that left a man in hospital. A police investigation is unlikely to be concluded before England leave for Australia on October 28, meaning the incident could hang over Stokes for the whole tour.
