Stokes spotted at Heathrow Airport

The England and Wales Cricket Board has poured cold water on speculation that Ben Stokes is bound for Australia to potentially take the field in the Magellan Ashes series.

An image alleged to be of the star allrounder at London's Heathrow Airport began doing the rounds on social media today.

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There have been murmurs that Stokes could make a mid-series appearance in the Ashes after he posted a series of videos of him bowling and batting in the nets at Chester-le-Street, the home ground of his county side, Durham.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) insists Stokes is instead making a trip to New Zealand to visit family.

“The ECB is aware that Ben Stokes is making a private trip to New Zealand to spend time with his family. His travel arrangements have not been arranged by the ECB,” a statement read.

“He is not on his way to the Ashes, England Lions or any other official training camps with the England set-up.”

Stokes was arrested in the early hours of September 25 on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and later released after an altercation with several men. The incident allegedly left a 27-year-old man requiring hospital treatment for facial injuries.

Police are probing the incident, while the ECB's independent Cricket Discipline Commission also launched an investigation.

Stokes did not travel with the squad when they departed London on October 28 and may not tour altogether pending the outcome of the investigations.

Stokes averages 35.72 with the bat and 33.93 with the ball from 39 Tests, underlining his value in England’s set up, and he is fourth in the ICC allrounder Test rankings.

Momentum for the 26-year-old to return has been steadily gathering pace but there has been no movement from the Avon & Somerset Police who are investigating the Bristol brawl.

If Stokes does take the field in the third Test in Perth starting on December 14, as has been speculated, it would represent a massive boost for England after their 10-wicket loss in the first Test in Brisbane.

"I heard he will be coming out," former Australia opener Chris Rogers told Sportsday Radio earlier this month.

"I heard he won't be playing the first two Tests.

"Whether that (two-Test absence) is through suspension or if he still has a bit of an injury, I'm not too sure," Rogers said, referencing the hand injury Stokes allegedly sustained in the street fight. 

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.

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

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

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

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

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

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

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

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