Stokes was excluded from the 15-man Ashes squad following an alleged brawl.
Ben Stokes (Photo: AFP)
England all-rounder Ben Stokes was excluded from the 15-man Ashes squad following an alleged brawl, for which the cricketer was booked in Bristol last month.
Pacer Steven Finn stepped into the squad for the full five-Test series, starting from November 23 in Australia.
“With the Ashes just around the corner, it’s important to give the players, the coaching staff and supporters some clarity around a complex situation,” Andrew Strauss, Director of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), said in a statement.
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Strauss added that this decision will help the English players amalgamate in the set-up.
“This decision will help us in the weeks ahead and give every player and the whole England set-up the best chance to focus on the challenge ahead in Australia,” he said.
However, the 26-year-old New Zealand-born cricketer can still make a surprising return in the squad. As Stokes was retained in the central contracts of the ECB for the 2017-18 season; therefore he can make a return if the police don’t take further action against him.
‘We have spoken to Ben and assured him that our decision in no way prejudges the outcome of the ongoing Police investigation or Cricket Discipline Commission process, as can be seen by the award of central contracts,” Strauss added.
The first Ashes Test will be played from November 23-27 at the Gabba in Brisbane followed by Tests in Adelaide from December 2-6, Perth (December 14-18), Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 4-8).
(With inputs from agencies)
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