England’s premier all-rounder, Ben Stokes, has found himself in trouble yet again. The 26-year-old was arrested by police on Monday morning in Bristol, and thus will be unavailable for the 4th ODI of the ongoing series against West Indies.
Advertisement
Along with Stokes, opener Alex Hales is also all set to miss the 4th ODI on Wednesday, after he agreed to help with police inquiries and returned to Bristol.
“Stokes was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning, 25 September, following an incident in Bristol,” an official statement by ECB read. “He was held overnight and released under investigation – without charge – late on Monday and will not join the team in London.
“Hales, who was with Stokes on Sunday night, did not train this morning and has returned voluntarily to Bristol today to help police with their inquiries. You will understand that we cannot offer further detail at this stage but will provide any updates when we can.”
ALSO READ : Adam Gilchrist teasing Sehwag is the funniest thing you will see
Avon and Somerset police filed an appeal for information detailing that a 27-year-old man was beaten and suffered facial injuries, and was then shifted to the Bristol Infirmary for treatment after a disorder in the Queens Road and Clifton Triangle area at 2.35 am on Monday’s mid-night.
According to reports, the incident is thought to have taken place near the Mbargo nightclub. “A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and has since been released under investigation while inquiries continue,” the appeal added.
England will name the replacements of Stokes and Hales on Wednesday morning, with skipper Eoin Morgan talking about the incident on the eve of the game: “It has been a bit of a distraction but ultimately this game is about winning the series.”
“Two positions are up for grabs and we will think about that today and make a decision tomorrow morning,” said the limited-overs England skipper. “We feel we have a strong enough squad to be able to select from in order to fill that hole.”
Ben Stokes smashed 73 from 63 in a 132-run stand with Joe Root in Bristol last Sunday, with England defeating West Indies by 124 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the 5-game ODI series.
The all-rounder has also had disciplinary troubles in the past, after he was sent home from the England Lions tour of Australia, after he ignored a curfew and went out drinking.
Moreover, he also punched a locker in the dressing room after he was dismissed on a golden duck in England’s tour of West Indies in 2014, which ruled him out of the 2014 T20 World Cup.
This is what former England skipper had to say about Stokes,
“Ben Stokes can’t say he was not warned. I have been privy to private conversations about him recently and he has been given strong warnings about his lifestyle,” wrote Vaughan.
“People have said to him there is only one person who can ruin your career and that is you. Nobody else. He has the talent, plays all three formats relatively easily. Has the world at his feet,” the former skipper said.
