It wouldn't be a proper Ashes without Stokes: Sir Ian Botham

Veteran English cricketer Sir Ian Botham believes star all-rounder Ben Stokes should be allowed to play in the upcoming Ashes series. Stokes is currently barred from England’s tour of Australia pending the outcome of an ongoing police investigation. The 26-year-old is facing potential charges of causing actual bodily harm during a late-night brawl in the English city of Bristol in September which left a man with facial injuries and needing to be taken to the hospital.

However, there is an under-growing feeling that Stokes will indeed be cleared of wrongdoing and Botham believes that would be a fair outcome. Based on the video footage that is out there and the two guys who testified that he was helping them, the legend thinks England’s star all-rounder should walk through.

“I’ve seen the video footage, we’ve had the two guys come out and said he intervened when these guys were getting stuck into them verbally and a guy takes a swing at you with a bottle a couple times, I think you’re entitled to finish it off, aren’t you?,” he told SEN on Tuesday.

What really happened was Stokes tried to save a couple from homophobic abuse. The couple, Kai Barry, 26, and Billy O’Connell, 20, even came out in the open to say that Stokes had saved them from getting into “real trouble.”

Stokes to miss first two Tests

The best-case scenario for Stokes would imply he misses the first two Tests of the series. However, Botham was adamant that the England vice-captain wouldn’t be affected by his interrupted preparation.

Stokes’all-around abilities have made him one of the most integral cogs in the English squad and his exclusion will be a major blow to the three Lions as they prepare for the Ashes set to kick off Thursday, at Brisbane.

It wouldn’t be a proper Ashes series if Stokes wasn’t on the receiving end of some sledging for his recent off-field dramas, according to Botham.