Kevin Pietersen terms Ben Stokes brawl video 'horrendous'
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Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen feels that Ben Stokes should not be involved in the forthcoming Ashes series after watching the latter's ugly brawl video and called the video "horrendous". Given the aggressive behaviour of Stokes in the past, Pietersen wants him to stay away from Australia.
An unintentional tussle in a club of Bristol has become a nightmare for Ben Stokes. Recently, a video came up on the internet showing Stokes involved in an ugly scuffle at a nightclub in Bristol. The tussle ended shortly and soon after, Stokes was arrested by the Bristol Police and as a result, his name was also withdrawn from the upcoming Ashes squad. Apart from that, the senior players are also concerned about his role after the incident.Â
Batsman Kevin Pietersen watched the video and feels that Ben Stokes should not fly with the English team for the Ashes.Â
The Sunday Times reported Pietersen saying, "You cannot play for your country if you carry on like that. You cannot represent that badge. The more that you watch that video, the worse it gets. It is horrible, I can hardly watch the bit at the end, it is horrendous.”
Moreover, Stokes has a past record of being aggressive and there is a long list of similar incidents he was involved in. In 2011, he was arrested and received a caution from the police on a night out, whereas, due to late-night drinking, he was sent home from an England Lions tour in 2013. In 2014, Stokes punched a locker and injured his hand, as a result of which he was ruled out of the World T20 in Bangladesh.
According to Pietersen, Stokes going to a hostile place like Australia won’t work.
"Australia is a hostile place and I don’t think with his personality, at least from what we have seen, I just don’t think it will work in Australia. Not this time.”
“As a bloke, he is one of the real good guys in the dressing room. He is a funny guy, just the heart and soul of the dressing room. I want to feel sorry for him. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the case, I just don’t think you can play for England right now," he concluded.
