Ashes 2017/18: Ben Stokes set to miss flight to Australia as Steven Finn steps in
Ben Stokes won't travel with the rest of the squad to Australia and may miss out altogether
The all-rounder, who is currently unavailable for selection after fracturing his hand in an incident outside a Bristol nightclub, was due to fly out with the touring party on October 28.
But yesterday England boss Andrew Strauss confirmed the ECB have made a U-turn over his departure and that his place will be taken in the 16-man touring party by the Middlesex fast bowler.
Strauss, who stressed “no final decision” had yet been taken regarding Stokes’s Ashes participation, also chose yesterday to get tough with three other England players from the late night out in Bristol.
Following Strauss’s internal investigation, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Plunkett and Jake Ball have been reprimanded for their part in a night which ended with the arrest of Stokes, Strauss dishing out formal warnings and fines for “unprofessional conduct”.
It is the immediate future of Stokes, one of eight players awarded a central contract yesterday, which is the biggest concern for both the player and the ECB.
All parties are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the police investigation into allegations he was involved in an incident which left a man needing hospital treatment for facial injuries.
Avon and Somerset Police are expected to update the status of the investigation within two weeks.