Stokes arrives at court to face affray trial

Stokes was suspended for the Ashes in December and January because of the incident, but returned to the England squad to play against New Zealand and Pakistan.

Published : Aug 06, 2018 15:37 IST , Bristol, United Kingdom

Stokes and two others-- Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale denied the charges against them for a brawl that occurred in Bristol last September.
Stokes and two others-- Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale denied the charges against them for a brawl that occurred in Bristol last September.
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Stokes and two others-- Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale denied the charges against them for a brawl that occurred in Bristol last September.

England cricketer Ben Stokes arrived at court on Monday, where he will go on trial for affray.

The all-rounder and two other men are jointly charged over a fracas in Bristol on September 25 last year -- several hours after England had played a one-day international against the West Indies in the city.

Stokes, 27, and Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale all deny the charge.

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Wearing a blue suit and red tie, Stokes was driven to the city's Crown Court in a silver people-carrier and walked straight into the building flanked by the media.

The charge he faces states that their “conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety”.

A 27-year-old man allegedly suffered a fractured eye socket in the incident, at which fellow England cricketer Alex Hales was also present.

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The trial is expected to last between five and seven days in courtroom one.

Stokes missed the Ashes after being suspended from playing for England. Without him, England lost the Ashes to Australia 4-0.

He has since played in the Test series against New Zealand and Pakistan. He starred on Saturday as England beat India at Edgbaston.

Stokes and the two other men are on bail. With the court proceedings set to go on for five to six days, the all-rounder is omitted from the England squad for the second Test against India at Lord's which will start on Thursday, August 9.

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