Ben Stokes arrested on suspicion of assault on night out

Ben Stokes was arrested on suspicion of assault on Monday morning and held overnight after an incident on a night out in Bristol.

The England cricket star has been left out of the final two one-day internationals against the West Indies later this week following the incident, which occurred outside the Mbargo club in Bristol.

He and team-mate Alex Hales, who is helping police with their enquiries, did not train with their England colleagues at the Oval on Wednesday morning. 

Ben Stokes has been ruled out of England’s final two ODIs against the West Indies

The England all-rounder was arrested on Monday morning after an incident in Bristol

The England all-rounder was arrested on Monday morning after an incident in Bristol

The incident occurred in Queens Road, Clifton at around 2.35am on Monday morning

The incident occurred in Queens Road, Clifton at around 2.35am on Monday morning

The incident involving Stokes happened outside the Mbargo night club in Bristol

The incident involving Stokes happened outside the Mbargo night club in Bristol

STOKES RAP SHEET 

2011: Stokes was arrested for obstructing a police officer 

2012: Stokes sent home from an England Lions tour after he ignored a team curfew

2014: Stokes was ruled out of the T20 World Cup through injury after punching a locker 

2017: Stokes earned a third demerit point for making an ‘inappropriate comment’. He received two in 2016 for similar verbal offences

Stokes was released without charge, but remains under investigation as police continue their enquiries. 

An ECB statement read: ‘Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will not be available for tomorrow’s One-Day International match against West Indies at The Oval. 

‘Stokes was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning, 25 September, following an incident in Bristol. 

‘He was held overnight and released under investigation – without charge – late on Monday and will not join the team in London. 

‘Hales, who was with Stokes on Sunday night, did not train this morning and has returned voluntarily to Bristol today to help Police with their enquiries. 

‘You will understand that we cannot offer further detail at this stage but will provide any updates when we can.’

Avon and Somerset Police tweeted asking for information relating to the incident

Avon and Somerset Police tweeted asking for information relating to the incident

Stokes and team-mate Jonny Bairstow were pictured on a night out in Manchester last week

Stokes and team-mate Jonny Bairstow were pictured on a night out in Manchester last week

Stokes and Bairstow were out in the city centre after the first ODI against West Indies

Stokes and Bairstow were out in the city centre after the first ODI against West Indies

Avon and Somerset Police later confirmed: ‘We were called to a disorder in Queens Road, Clifton at around 2.35am on Monday (25 September)

‘A 27-year-old man was found to have suffered facial injuries and was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary for treatment.

‘A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and has since been released under investigation.’

Stokes was previously arrested in December 2011 for obstructing a police officer while out in Cockermouth, Cumbria. 

Team-mate Alex Hales is helping police with their enquiries following the incident 

Team-mate Alex Hales is helping police with their enquiries following the incident 

Opening batsman Alex Hales will play no part in the final two matches of the series either

Opening batsman Alex Hales will play no part in the final two matches of the series either

England one-day captain Eoin Morgan said: ‘It has been a little bit of a distraction. But there are always distractions, both as captains and as players, whether that’s within the group or outside the group.

‘One thing as a group that we are very strong at is sticking together as a side and working well as a team.

‘Certainly in the past the best thing we’ve always been able to do is to focus on our cricket, and this instance is no different. 

‘There is a little bit of a distraction outside the team, and it has the potential to affect the game tomorrow. But not letting that happen is something we can strive to do.’

The news comes on the eve of England naming their touring party for this winter’s Ashes tour of Australia, but ECB director of cricket confirmed the incident would have no bearing on selection.

He said on Tuesday: ‘The selectors have been instructed to select the Ashes squad based on form and fitness as they normally would.’ 

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