Ben Stokes court hearing date announced, player set to appear on February 13
The Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed on Thursday (January 18) that Ben Stokes will appear in the Bristol Court on February 13. The England all-rounder has been charged with causing a commotion that led to a full-blown fight outside a Bristol nightclub in September last year.
The England player was arrested after causing bodily harm following an incident outside the nightclub on September 25, 2017, as it left a man with a fractured eye socket. The brawl resulted in Stokes’ exclusion from the side as he missed the last two matches of the ODI series against West Indies. The player was also not a part of the team that toured Australia for the Ashes series as the England cricket board said that they would not select him until any further notice.
The three men charged in connection with a disorder on Queens Road, Bristol on 25 September last year will appear at Bristol Magistrates' Court on 13 February.
— Avon&Somerset Police (@ASPolice) January 18, 2018
Ben Stokes, 26, of Durham, Ryan Ali, 28 and Ryan Hale, 26, both of Bristol, have each been charged with affray. pic.twitter.com/P7K6zZTLKj
On Wednesday, two days before the date announced for appearing in the court, the ECB confirmed that Stokes’ name will now be considered for selection. The England cricketer was set to join the team for T20I against New Zealand that will be played on February 13. However, with the hearing now scheduled to take place on the same date, the player will have to wait long for his return as convictions for affray can hand financial or custodial penalties according to severities.
England will play a T20I tri-series including New Zealand and Australia which will start from February 3 in the Kiwi nation. Earlier, the ECB had decided that Stokes will not participate in the first two games against the Kangaroos and will only return in the fourth match of the series.