England cricket all-rounder Ben Stokes arrested and held in cells after ‘punching clubber in a glassing row’
CRICKET ace Ben Stokes has been named in the Ashes squad despite his arrest and broken hand after punching a nightclubber in a glassing row.
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed he has a spot as vice captain on this winter’s Ashes in Australia as it was confirmed he had suffered a "minor fracture" in his right hand.
Stokes, 26, was quizzed by police on suspicion of ABH after Monday’s 2.35am fracas which left a man aged 27 in hospital.
The star, who had an X-ray on his right hand, was later released on police bail.
The damage is less severe than first suspected but England chiefs have launched a probe which could still lead to Stokes being sacked as vice-captain and other team-mates facing disciplinary action.
If charged with any offence, he could face trial and a possible court travel ban preventing him from jetting to Oz at all.
The incident could cast a shadow over his wedding to Clare Ratcliffe, 27, on October 14.
Last night sources insisted dad-of-two Stokes stepped in after a reveller wielded a bottle in Mbargo, a club in Bristol.
The 6ft Durham all-rounder had been out with teammates Jimmy Anderson, Jake Ball and Alex Hales after England beat the West Indies in a one-day game in the city on Sunday.
An insider close to the team said: “Hales and Stokes were the last two out of the club. A man was threatening two people and evidently picked up a bottle.
“Stokes told him to calm down and to step away and then the man started kicking off at him.
He claimed: “Stokes has been to hospital. He’s had an X-ray. I don’t know how it went. All I know is he has been checked over by England medical staff.”
Stokes and Hales were dropped from today’s one-day match with the West Indies at The Oval.
The Ashes party is due to fly to Australia on October 28, with the First Test in Brisbane on November 23.
England’s white-ball captain Eoin Morgan said: “It has been a bit of a distraction,” while an ECB statement confirmed “Stokes was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning, following an incident in Bristol.
“He was held overnight and released under investigation - without charge - late on Monday and will not join the team in London.
“Hales, who was with Stokes on Sunday night, did not train this morning and has returned voluntarily to Bristol today to help police with their inquiries.
“We cannot offer further detail at this stage but will provide any updates when we can.”
