Ben Stokes named in England ODI squad for Australia ODIs

Stokes has been serving a ban from international cricket as British authorities currently probe his alleged involvement in a late-night brawl outside a Bristol nightclub in September, and it remained doubtful if he would play in the ODI series. It will be decided once the judgement from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), to whom his case was forwarded by the Avon & Somerset Police for charging advice, comes out. 

"Both Alex Hales and Ben Stokes are included, though their involvement remains subject to any relevant legal or disciplinary developments in relation to the incident in Bristol in September."

“Whether it’s any more of a circus than it’s already been, it’s hard to say. If it happens, let’s just get on with it and take it on the chin. We’ve got to adjust to that at some stage,” Bayliss said, reported AFP.

Stokes did not travel to Australia with the rest of the squad for the Ashes and has missed the first two Tests, both of which England have lost. There were speculations that Stokes was preparing for a dramatic call-up to the national squad which was further triggered by his decision to sign with New Zealand's provincial side Canterbury as their overseas player in late November. In his first limited-overs match for his birth province against Otago, he was bowled for two. However, he did better against Auckland on Wednesday, hitting 34 from 41 deliveries.