England’s star all-rounder Ben Stokes was arrested on Monday morning in Bristol and will not be available for the fourth ODI against West Indies on Wednesday.
Alex Hales will also miss the match at the Oval after agreeing to return to Bristol and help police with their inquiries into the incident.
“Stokes was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning, 25 September, following an incident in Bristol,” read an England and Wales Cricket Board statement. “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. You will understand that we cannot offer further detail at this stage but will provide any updates when we can.”
Avon and Somerset’s police had issued an appeal for information, saying that 27-year-old man suffered facial injuries and was taken to the Bristol Infirmary for treatment after disorder in the Queens Road and Clifton Triangle area at 2.35am on Monday morning. The incident is thought to have taken place near the Mbargo nightclub.
“A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and has since been released under investigation while inquiries continue,” it added.
England limited-overs captain, Eoin Morgan, said of the incident, It has been a bit of a distraction but ultimately this game is about winning the series.”
Stokes and Hales’s replacements will be announced on Wednesday morning. “Two positions are up for grabs and we will think about that today and make a decision tomorrow morning,” said Morgan. “We feel we have a strong enough squad to be able to select from in order to fill that hole.”
Stokes scored 73 runs off 63 balls during a 132-run partnership with Joe Root in Bristol on Sunday as England beat West Indies by 124 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series, with one game abandoned due to rain.
