Ben Stokes could land sensational Third Test call-up for England if he is cleared of affray
All-rounder has been left out of an unchanged 13-man squad for the Trent Bridge game starting on Saturday but that might change if a crown court jury find him not guilty
BEN STOKES could be sensationally called into England’s squad for the Third Test if he is cleared of affray.
All-rounder Stokes was omitted on Monday from an unchanged 13-man squad for the match starting at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
But the door remains open for a recall if the jury, which begins deliberations this morning, finds him not guilty at Bristol Crown Court.
An England spokesman said: “The ECB will make an assessment of Ben Stokes’ availability after the trial in Bristol has concluded.”
Sunsport understands that refers specifically to the Third Test even though England thrashed India by an innings and 159 runs in the Second Test at Lord’s without Stokes.
If he is found guilty, of course, Stokes could not possibly play and might face a lengthy absence.
Stokes himself is desperate to return to action and would surely reject any suggestion he is not in the correct mental or physical state to play.
Captain Joe Root and head coach Trevor Bayliss are unlikely to block the move because Stokes gives another option as they look to increase their 2-0 series lead.
But his selection would have to be endorsed by ECB chairman Colin Graves, chief executive Tom Harrison and acting team managing director Andy Flower.
England managing director Andrew Strauss, currently on leave because of his wife’s poor health, might also be consulted.
They may consider it a bad look for England to rush back Stokes so soon after a trial that has produced an avalanche of uncomfortable headlines.
Once the legal process is complete, Stokes and batsman Alex Hales, who was involved in the street incident in Bristol last September, will be interviewed by an independent disciplinary panel.
The panel, chaired by former Derbyshire batsman turned lawyer Tim O’Gorman, can apply cricket sanctions (such as a ban) but not employment sanctions (such as sacking a player). They could take around a week to reach their decision.
Asked if the players were distracted by Stokes’ ongoing court case, Bayliss said: “The result at Lord’s speaks for itself.
"The guys are able to put anything off field out of their minds and concentrate on what they’re doing. This was the perfect example.”
When Stokes eventually comes back, either Chris Woakes or Sam Curran will almost certainly have to be left out.
It would be a mighty tough call on either considering Woakes scored his first Test century at Lord’s on Saturday and Curran has been so impressive in the first two Tests against India.
Another option would be to keep Stokes on the sidelines but Root and Bayliss love his ability and competitive character.
Woakes should be the unlucky one to lose his place.
His last two summers have been undermined by injury and, although he performed superbly in the Second Test, his record overseas is poor.
Woakes struggles to be as effective on flatter foreign pitches with the Kookaburra ball, which offers less movement than the Dukes used in England.
Curran is not a better bowler than Woakes but his left-arm style gives him the edge.
four-pronged, right-arm attack of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Woakes and Stokes lacks variety.
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Stokes has been England’s premier all-rounder of recent years but now the Test team is stuffed full of multi-faceted cricketers.
In addition to Woakes, Curran and wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow, there is Adil Rashid, who did not bowl or bat in England’s victory by an innings and 159 runs at Lord’s.
Rashid could be dumped on a non-turning pitch but that would leave England with five seamers - surely, one too many.
If a surface looks like spinning sharply, Moeen Ali could be included at the expense of a seamer.
England squad for Third Test: Cook, Jennings, Root (capt), Pope, Bairstow (wkt), Buttler, Woakes, Curran, Rashid, Broad, Anderson, Moeen, Porter.