Ben Stokes to not Feature in Ashes; Returns to England

England all-rounder Ben Stokes dream of featuring in this Ashes series appears officially over with the all-rounder to fly back to United Kingdom (UK) from New Zealand on Saturday.

Stokes made himself available for New Zealand domestic side Canterbury in an attempt to regain form and match fitness while he remains suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for his involvement in the brawl at the streets of Bristol on September 25.

Canterbury Cricket today announced the star all-rounder would be flying back to the UK possibly to spend the Christmas at home and it has no relation to the investigation going on about the late night brawl.

Stokes had a short stint in New Zealand, mixing cricket with family holiday spending time with his wife and children, and also visiting his parents.

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“Ben has been great around the club, the team and the staff. We can’t fault his attitude or his all-round contribution in his time with us, and we are sorry that he couldn’t stay with us for longer, but Ben knows that he will always find a welcome here should the opportunity arise for him to return,” Canterbury CEO Jez Curwin said in a statement.

The statement also included a comment from Stokes where he mentioned he thoroughly enjoyed playing and training with Canterbury.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed training and playing with Canterbury. Everyone here has gone out of their way to make me feel at home. It’s a wonderful club, and I couldn’t have asked for any more from my time here,” Stokes said in that statement.

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Stokes had a mixed time in the middle in the 50-over and T20 formats getting out for two on his debut, and ran himself out after facing just one ball in another encounter. However, he also found some touch in the middle hammering 93 off just 47 balls in a T20 encounter.

The 26-year-old all-rounder remains officially part of England’s Magellan Ashes squad and has been named in England’s one-day squad that will play a five-match Gillette ODI series following the Ashes.

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However, he is still waiting for the verdict following his street brawl in Bristol, on a night out after a match against the Windies in the city. Stokes was arrested and later released by the Avon & Somerset police passing on the file to UK’s Crown Prosecution Service, who are yet to decide whether he will be charged.

England has lost the first three Ashes Test to hand over the urn to the host Australia, adding worries ahead of the Boxing Day Test with pacer Craig Overton not involved in training.