Ben Stokes to Face Disciplinary Hearing in December

Updated - 10 Jan 2019, 01:11 AM

Ben Stokes, Disciplinary Hearing, December
England bowler Ben Stokes celebrates after bowling Rahul during day two of the 3rd Specsavers Test Match between England and India at Trent Bridge on August 19, 2018 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

English all-rounder Ben Stokes will now appear in a disciplinary hearing on December 5, 2018. It will be held four months after he was cleared of the affray charges at the Bristol Crown Court.

Stokes and his Three Lions teammate Alex Hales have to appear before the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) cricket discipline commission in between England’s tour of Sri Lanka and the Windies.

Two specific days would have been left aside related to the incident which happened last September. It led to the arrest of Stokes. He was alleged to have kicked a man during a Bristol street brawl.

Both the national players are likely to face charges for bringing the game into disrepute. In all likelihood, they could be handed lengthy bans.

It was the complexity of the case and the lack of a suitable panel which delayed the process of hearing. England will fly to Sri Lanka on 28th September. It was learnt that Stokes or Hales have to return to face a disciplinary case with the tour in progress. It explained the long delay before it finally got underway.

Ben Stokes, England, Alex Hales
Ben Stokes will face the disciplinary hearing in December along with Alex Hales. Getty Images

Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will face a disciplinary hearing in December:

Hales was interviewed by the police but was never arrested or charged following the incident. As per reports, it was learnt that Stokes was found hitting two men who were drunk outside a Bristol pub.

It was due to the charge Stokes had to miss the Ashes last year as the case was being investigated.

Meanwhile coming back to the ongoing Test series against England, the hosts have already taken a 3-1 lead in the five-match series. The fifth and the final Test is currently underway at the Kennington Oval in London.

Ben Stokes, Alex Hales, England
Ben Stokes has been one of the finest all-rounders in England. (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)

Here again, hosts are in a fairly dominant position, and it will take a big effort from India to save or win the match from here on. England posted a commendable score of 332 runs and then reduced India to 174 for six at the end of the second day.