Police appeal key witnesses to provide evidence in Ben Stokes brawl investigation

Avon and Somerset Police have issued an appeal for two witnesses to come forward and support the evidence provided by Ben Stokes. The England all-rounder is under investigation for being involved in the street outside the bar in Bristol. Also, he along with Alex Hales has been suspended by the England Cricket Board (ECB) indefinitely on Thursday after the video footage allegedly showed Stokes throwing punches in a fight.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday morning at 2.35 am in the Clifton area of the city post the third ODI against Windies. This led the young cricketer being detained overnight before being released without charge pending further investigations. Hales, who was present during the incident, returned to Bristol voluntarily on Tuesday to help police with their inquiries. Now everything depends on the police investigation which now appears to hinge on the identification of two men present that night, whom the players claim were being subjected to homophobic abuse prior to the incident.

Police statement

Avon and Somerset Police cleared that investigation over the incident are in process and believe there are two witnesses who were present at that time. “Our enquiries into the disorder in the Queens Road/Clifton Triangle area of Bristol in the early hours of Monday are continuing,” read an update on the Avon and Somerset Police Twitter feed. “We believe there are two specific witnesses, both men, with information about what happened in the moments prior to the disorder who are yet to come forward and we’d appeal for them to do so as soon as possible,” it continued.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the coach of the team Trevor Bayliss expressed his displeasure over the players going out late at night mid-way through an International series. “I have been with teams before and we have had curfews and that doesn’t work either. Whichever way you go, a lot of the responsibility comes back on to the players. They are adults and they have to take responsibility. They are professionals,” he said.