Stokes cleared to play by England

Ben Stokes has been cleared to resume his international career by the England and Wales Cricket Board and is expected to return to action in the Gillette T20 tri-series featuring Australia and New Zealand.

However, the star allrounder is expected to skip Australia and head straight for New Zealand, the country of his birth, to link up with his teammates mid-series.

Stokes was this week charged with affray following a protracted investigation into an alleged street brawl in Bristol in late September. The charge was laid by the Avon & Somerset Police on advice from the UK's Crown Prosecution Service.

An ECB statement tonight said it "would not be fair, reasonable or proportionate" to keep Stokes sidelined as he awaits a court date.

"Following a full Board discussion, in which all considerations were taking into account, the ECB Board has agreed that Ben Stokes should now be considered for England selection," an ECB statement read.

"Given the CPS decision to charge him and two others with affray, confirmation of his intention to contest the charge and the potential length of time to trial, the Board agreed that it would not be fair, reasonable or proportionate for Ben Stokes to remain unavailable for a further indeterminate period."

Stokes had been suspended indefinitely by the ECB following the alleged brawl in western England in the early hours of the morning following an England ODI win against the West Indies.

Stokes missed the remainder of that series, and the entirety of England's 4-0 Ashes defeat to Australia. He has also been withdrawn from the ongoing Gillette ODI series, which England leads 1-0 ahead of Friday night’s second match at the Gabba.

"ECB fully respects the legal process and the player’s intention to defend himself against the charge," the ECB statement read.

"England Selectors, management and players have been informed and Ben Stokes is expected to join the squad in New Zealand for February's T20 matches."

That means that Stokes will not set foot on Australian soil this summer and miss England's opening two matches of the Gillette T20 tri-series.

That series starts with a match between Australia and New Zealand at the SCG on February 3, while England's first match is against Australia in Hobart on February 7. They also feature in the third match, against Australia at the MCG on February 10.

The series then shifts across the Tasman to New Zealand where England can expect to be joined by Stokes ahead of matches against New Zealand in Wellington and at Seddon Park before the final on February 21.

That final, if Australia and England qualify, represents Stokes' only chance to play against Australia this summer.

While Stokes awaits a court date to front the affray charge, the ECB reiterated its position that it would not finalise any internal disciplinary process against Stokes or teammate Alex Hales "until the conclusion of the court proceedings relating to the incident". Hales was with Stokes during the alleged incident but has been cleared by police of facing any charges.

Stokes made his first public statement on the incident following the confirmation that he and two Bristol men had all been charged over the alleged incident. 

"I gave a full and detailed account of my actions to the police on day one - the same day as the incident - and have cooperated at each step of the police inquiry," Stokes said in statement posted on his Twitter account.

"I am keen to have an opportunity to clear my name, but on advice, the appropriate time to do this is when the case comes to trial.

"The CPS' decision to charge me, as well as Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, at least means that my account of what happened that night can come out in court and be made public.

"Until then, my focus is very much on cricket."

The only cricket Stokes has played since the Bristol incident came on a trip home to his native New Zealand, where he played in six domestic matches in December for Canterbury while the Ashes were being contested across the Tasman.

2017-18 International Fixtures

Gillette ODI Series v England

Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Cameron White, Adam Zampa.

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

First ODI England won by five wickets at the MCG.

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

England T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood.

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final TBC, Eden Park, February 21