Ben Stokes submits not guilty plea to Bristol court

English all-rounder Ben Stokes has reportedly submitted a not guilty plea to one charge of affray at the Bristol Magistrates Court. The English all-rounder has been in the news for the wrong reasons in the recent times. Stokes was being tipped as the next big thing in world cricket. Also, his brand value as a player was on the rise as the Ashes 2017-18 was approaching.

However, a month prior to the coveted event, Ben Stokes found himself being involved in a pub brawl in Bristol. Soon, the police arrested him and put him under their custody. Not only did Stokes miss out his chances in the English assignment back then, but also lost a place in the England squad for the Ashes. The Ashes was a disappointment for England anyway.

Soon, the ECB named Stokes in the English squad for the ODI series against Australia. But again, this probability did not see a morning light. The ECB had then conceded that they are awaiting the final verdict from the court on the issue before taking any further step. The verdict did arrive and Stokes was charged with affray.

Now, Ben Stokes, along with two other gentlemen, Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, have submitted their pleas of not guilty to the charge of affray to the Bristol Magistrates Court. The case has now been moved to the Bristol Crown Court. The first hearing is scheduled to take place on March 12. For now, all three men have been released on bail.

What lies ahead

The ECB are optimistic of Stokes’ return to international cricket soon. They looked confident in stating that England could see Ben Stokes return for the ongoing limited overs series in New Zealand. While his international return depends largely on what the court verdict will be, the ECB is clear in their statement that they do not have problems with Stokes playing elsewhere.

Stokes was recently seen domestic cricket in New Zealand for Canterbury. He is also expected to turn up for the Rajasthan Royals at the 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League commencing in April.

For the latest cricket news, follow CricTracker.