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I'll be watching, Stokes tells England

Absent allrounder posts video message to Ashes teammates from the UK ahead of the series-opener

Ben Stokes will be keeping an eye on the first Test in Brisbane from home ahead of possibly joining his England teammates as he awaits his Magellan Ashes fate.

Stokes, who has kept a low profile since his arrest for alleged involvement in a street brawl, tweeted his support to the tourists before the five-match series gets underway at the Gabba on Thursday morning.

The star allrounder is reportedly set to find out this week whether he will be charged by police over the Bristol street fight in September which left a man hospitalised with facial injuries.

There are suggestions the vice-captain will be cleared by police and the England and Wales Cricket Board, possibly in time to join the squad ahead of the second Test in Adelaide.

"With the Ashes starting very soon, I just wanted to get a message out the all the boys out in the Australia, wishing them all the best for the first Test match," Stokes said in a video message.

"I know how much preparation has gone into making sure everyone's right and ready to go. And by the looks of it, everyone is.

"I just wanted to wish all the fans who made the long travels out to Australia all the best as well.

"I hope we can give you a good result in the first Test match. I'll be sat at home watching and following the lads and hoping they do really well."

Root on Lyon's sledge, England's Gabba curse

England captain Joe Root this week insisted he isn't sweating on Stokes' arrival, saying England are more than capable of defending the urn without him.

But Root admitted they would miss Stokes for the first Test.

"I think if you asked any captain in the world in any form of cricket 'would you prefer to have Ben Stokes in your squad?' ... they would all say yes," Root said.


Stokes has been increasingly active on social media in recent days, posting a series of videos of him bowling and batting in the nets at Chester-le-Street, the home ground of his county side, Durham.

The 26-year-old took to Twitter to slam former Australia opener Matthew Hayden, who had described England as a "rabble" and declared he didn't know "who half of these guys are" in reference to the visitors' Ashes squad on a Brisbane Heat podcast.

"Hayden says he doesn't know who half our squad is … only 2 from the squad haven't played at International level," Stokes wrote, questioning Hayden's standing as a cricket commentator.

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

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

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21