Ben Stokes pictured in Hamilton, New Zealand this morning. He followed a court hearing over his alleged attack outside a nightclub via a videolink today
England cricketer Ben Stokes has denied affray following an alleged fight outside a Bristol nightclub.
The Durham all-rounder is currently in New Zealand playing for the England team.
He followed via a video link today as his affray case came before a judge at Bristol Crown Court.
The court heard a trial will be held on August 6 and is expected to last five to seven days.
It means Stokes will miss England’s second test match against India at Lords.
He may also be a doubt for the first test at Edgbaston, which will finish the day before the first day of his trial.
The court case follows an alleged clash in the Clifton Triangle area of Bristol during the early hours of September 25 last year – several hours after England had played a one-day international against the West Indies in the city.
A 27-year-old man allegedly suffered a fractured eye socket in the incident, at which fellow England cricketer Alex Hales was also present.
Former soldier Ryan Hale is also due to stand trial over the incident in September last year
Ryan Ali, 28, and Ryan Hale, 26, are also standing trial for affray over the incident at the same time as Stokes.
Ali and Hale appeared in person at the court today and also pleaded not guilty to the charge of affray.
The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Blair QC said the trial for Stokes, Ali and Hale will start on August 6 and will last between five and seven days.
The judge told the three defendants: ‘You must be here without fail.
‘Each of you have an obligation to prepare, before May 22, a document called a defence statement, which will cover in detail what you will say as your defence.
‘You will remain on bail as before until August 6.’
Stokes, pictured outside a court in Bristol after a previous hearing, denies affray
Stokes has made a successful return to the England side in the past two weeks, playing in a one-day international series against New Zealand.
England won the five-game series 3-2 with the all-rounder in the thick of the action.
Stokes hit a six to win the second game in Mount Maunganui as part of an unbeaten score of 63.
He scored a total of 141 runs in the series and took five wickets making him one of England’s top-performing stars.
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