STOKES IN COURT
Ben Stokes pleads not guilty to affray after ‘brawl’… and immediately gets England recall
The 26-year-old Durham all-rounder showed no emotion as he entered his plea, with the case set down for trial next month
ENGLAND cricketer Ben Stokes will join the England squad in New Zealand tomorrow after pleading not guilty to affray after an alleged confrontation outside a nightclub.
The 26-year-old Durham all-rounder - who missed the Ashes after being suspended from playing for England - denied the charges against him, with the England and Wales Cricket Board immediately allowing him to travel overseas to rejoin the team.
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Stokes today entered his plea in front of a packed courtroom at Bristol Magistrates' Court, showing no emotion.
Ryan Ali, 28, and Ryan Hale, 26, also pleaded not guilty on the grounds of "self-defence and defence of another".
The fight allegedly unfolded in the Clifton Triangle area of Bristol in the early hours of September 25 last year - several hours after England had played a one-day international against the West Indies in the city.
It is alleged a 27-year-old man suffered a fractured eye socket in the incident, at which fellow England cricketer Alex Hales was also present.
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Since his court appearance, the ECB released a statement, saying: "Having entered his plea at Bristol Magistrates Court today, Ben Stokes will now travel to New Zealand to join the England squad.
"He departs tomorrow, Wednesday 14 February, and will arrive on Friday 16 February, ready to train with England team mates in Hamilton.
"Any decision to include him in upcoming matches will be made by Head Coach Trevor Bayliss and the England management team. He is not currently being considered for the ongoing International T20 Tri-Series.
"ECB fully respects his right to defend himself in court and any obligations he has within the legal process will always take precedence over England commitments.
"It has been confirmed that he will not be required to return to the UK for the first hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Monday 12 March."
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In a statement posted on Twitter last month after he was charged, Stokes said he was "keen to have an opportunity to clear my name".
Avon and Somerset Police said no action has been taken against a 27-year-old man who previously voluntarily attended a police station for interview.
The charge of affray is made under the Public Order Act 1986 and effectively relates to fighting in public.
The defendants are now expected to face trial at the Crown Court in Bristol on March 12.
They were placed on unconditional bail.
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While England were in Australia, Stokes played a few games for Canterbury Kings during a month-long spell in New Zealand before returning home to England.
Stokes could make his England return in the one-day series against New Zealand which begins on February 25 after being included in a 15-man squad.
He is due to play in the Indian Premier League after being sold for £1.4 million to the Rajasthan Royals.