Ben Stokes available for 3rd test; found not guilty of affray

Ben Stokes is available for the 3rd test at Trent Bridge after not being found guilty of affray.

English all-rounder Ben Stokes has been found not guilty of committing affray. The decision was made by the Bristol County Court during the early hours of Tuesday. Stokes’ wife Clare Stokes cried as the verdict was delivered while the 27 year old closed his eyes as he breathed a sigh of relief.

Ben Stoke and the second person being investigated, Ryan Ali also shook hands with the prosecutor and the leading police officer before they left the court. Jurors were told how the cricketer had been accused of having “hurled gay slurs” and fought with two men on the streets in Bristol. Subsequently, both the men whom Ben fought were knocked unconscious.

Prosecutors went on to claim that Ben Stokes had played a great role in the brawl. However, in the defence of Ben Stokes, his prosecutors claimed that all the accusations were absolutely nonsense. Ryan Ali was also cleared off of all potential charges for the same violence meaning that the case is now settled.

Stokes affirmed that he had not been abusive towards anyone and only exchanged jokes with two gay men over his £700 white shoes. Ben Stokes told the court that the supposed affray took place only after he overheard the two men using “nasty homophobic words” against the two gay men. The England all-rounder claimed he stepping in to defend them, fearing they were armed with bottles. He said: “All my actions were in self-defence and in fear of my safety.”

Also read: Jasprit Bumrah fir for third test against England

Hale was free of any charge potentially on him and was only questioned by the police. Ben Stokes being free from the legal accusations is eligible to be in contention for the third England test versus India. They are already 2-0 up and would be keen to wrap up the series with two games to spare in their third five-day outing.