London: England have dropped Ben Stokes and Alex Hales from their side to play West Indies in the fourth ODI at the Oval following Stokes’s arrest, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced, Tuesday. All-rounder Stokes, 26 was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning. Hales, 28 was with Stokes when the incident happened in the Clifton district of Bristol on Sunday night.
Stokes was arrested outside the Mbargo Club. This is not the first incident when the England all-rounder has been arrested. Stokes was previously nabbed in December 2011 for obstructing a police officer while out in Cockermouth, Cumbria.
The Oval match takes place just hours after England are due to unveil their squad for the Ashes tour of Australia at the south London ground earlier Wednesday.
“Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will not be available for tomorrow’s (Wednesday) ODI against West Indies at the Oval,” ECB director of England cricket Andrew Strauss said while reading out a board statement to reporters, Tuesday.
“Stokes was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning, 25 September, following an incident in Bristol. He was held overnight and released under investigation – without charge – late Monday and will not join the team in London.
“Hales, who was with Stokes, Sunday night, did not train this (Tuesday) morning and has returned voluntarily to Bristol today to help police with their enquiries,” added the former England captain.
Strauss confirmed that both Durham star Stokes – a Test regular – and Nottinghamshire batsman Hales, a fringe candidate, will be considered for the Ashes squad on cricketing grounds alone by the England selectors at this stage.
Meanwhile a statement issued by Avon and Somerset police said: “We were called to a disorder in Queens Road, Clifton, at around 2:35am (0135 GMT), Monday. A 27-year-old man was found to have suffered facial injuries and was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary for treatment.
“A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and has since been released under investigation.”
Commenting on the development, England ODI skipper Eoin Morgan stated Tuesday that the team were trying to put the distractions behind them. “One thing as a side we are sticking together well and trying to put things behind us,” Morgan stated.
Agence France-Presse
