Stokes court date revealed

Ben Stokes’s international cricket comeback could be pushed back after it was today announced he is due to appear in court to answer a charge of affray next month.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed Stokes has been requested to front Bristol Magistrates Court on Tuesday, February 13, the same day England are scheduled to play New Zealand in a T20 international in Wellington.

The CPS announced on Tuesday that Stokes, along with Bristol men Ryan Hales and Ryan Ali, were each charged with one count of affray – laid by the Avon & Somerset Police on advice from the CPS – following a late-night incident last September.

After hearing the charge, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) convened and cleared the allrounder to resume his international career having been suspended for the Magellan Ashes that England lost 0-4 to Australia.

Stokes is set to feature in the Gillette T20 tri-series, which starts on February 3 in Sydney, but skip the first leg in Australia and head straight to New Zealand, the country of his birth.

But England’s first game in New Zealand clashes with his court date in Bristol, with England’s next game five days later in Hamilton against the hosts before the final on February 21 in Auckland.

Yesterday, the ECB gave Stokes the green light to return in England colours while a court date was being determined.

"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."

Former England captain Mike Atherton labelled the ECB's decision to allow Stokes to play as "illogical". 

"It seems illogical in certain respects given that they essentially suspended him for the last two or three months, since the event in Bristol, and are now allowing him to play, even though the CPS decision has still got some time to run," Atherton told Sky Sports.

"So it's hard to square the two positions. You'd think there would be some consistency shown all the way through.

"Either you let him play for the past two or three months or you continue with the policy of what has happened up until now, with the effective suspension. It seems illogical to change course at this point and I think most people would find it hard to square the two positions."

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