Smith plays straight bat to Ben Stokes row

Steve Smith isn't interested in celebrating the likely absence of Ben Stokes from this summer's Magellan Ashes series.

Smith has spoken for the first time about the brawl involving Stokes that has thrown England's plans for the showpiece series into disarray.

Stokes and his nation's cricket board are sweating on the result of a police investigation into the Bristol incident that left a man in hospital with facial injuries.

The vice-captain will not travel to Australia with the rest of England's squad ahead of the five-Test series that starts in Brisbane on November 23.

Smith chose his words wisely on Sunday, confirming to ABC Grandstand he has watched the "alleged video".

"Whether he comes or not, that's out of our control," Australia's skipper said.

"You always want to come up against the best and test your skills against the best. That's what Test cricket is all about.

"There's no doubt Ben Stokes is one of the best players around the world at the moment."

When asked what punishment would have been dished out to Stokes if he was playing for Australia, Smith was coy.

"I certainly don't condone that kind of behaviour," Smith said.

"Hopefully it never happens to one of our boys."

Smith and Stokes were teammates during this year's Indian Premier League, with the English allrounder picking the brain of the world's best batsman during the Twenty20 tournament.

Stokes' career has featured plenty of on-field and off-field incidents but the latest is the most serious.

Regardless of who plays in the visitors' XI at the Gabba next month, Smith backed his star-studded pace attack.

"Two guys (Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins) who bowl 150-plus kilometres an hour and Josh Hazlewood bowling 140 and doing what he does," Smith said.

"That is a big advantage for us.

"They're three big players for us and if they turn it on throughout this series, I think we'll have a lot of success and take a lot of wickets."

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Steven Finn, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

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

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

T20 trans-Tasman Tri-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 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