England chief Andrew Strauss wants ‘complicated’ Ben Stokes situation resolved as Ashes approaches

Ben Stokes
AFP/Getty Images
Standard Sport5 November 2017

Director of England cricket Andrew Strauss is keen to see Ben Stokes' future resolved as England count down to the Ashes.

The squad are in Australia without Stokes ahead of their defence of the urn this month.

Stokes remains in England waiting to hear whether Avon & Somerset Police will charge him after his arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm in Bristol on September 25.

The 26-year-old was released under investigation and England coach Trevor Bayliss has ruled out his involvement in the Ashes, with Strauss eager to see a resolution.

"The situation in a word is complicated," the former England skipper told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek.

"There's two different potential disciplinary procedures he has to go through, one is the ECB's own internal one and the other is any potential police action.

"Until we know more from the police it's very hard for us to put a timeline on anything.

"What we all want is clarity on what that situation is and how much cricket he will be missing for England. We're keen to get into that and move this forward but we're in the hands of the police.

"Ben has been and is developing into a world-class cricketer. The fact he's not out there at the moment is a blow to the England team."

England begin the defence of the Ashes in Brisbane on November 23 and opened their tour with victory against a Western Australia XI at the weekend.

Mark Stoneman made 85 and James Vince 82, although Alastair Cook went for a second ball duck, as England declared on 349-6 before bowling out the hosts for 338.

It was a positive start after Australia captain Steve Smith said he wants to open up the scars of the 2013-14 series where England lost 5-0.

They regained the Ashes in 2015, winning the series 3-2, and Strauss believes those involved in the last defeat Down Under will want to right the wrongs.

He added: "The build-up to the Ashes is always quite painful, an incredible phoney war goes on where any comment is drummed into a big headline.

"I was involved in a 5-0 drubbing in 2006 and I used that as a very strong base for retribution.

"I'm sure the guys who were there last time and suffered the chastening defeat at the hands of Mitchell Johnson will want to put that right."

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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