ENG vs IND 2018: Ben Stokes To Miss Lord's Test Due To Affray Trial

Ben Stokes will miss the second England vs India Test, scheduled to be played at Lord’s as it clashes with his trial for affray.

Stokes, on Saturday, once again showed why he is irreplaceable in the Test team. The allrounder inspired the team to a sensational victory with a decisive bowling spell in the first Test.

At 141 for 6 while chasing 194, India were slightly ahead in the game because of Virat Kohli’s presence. The India skipper had scored a majestic ton in the first innings and had just crossed his fifty in the second. A few more overs of Kohli on the crease would have surely put the game beyond England’s reach. Root then decided to introduce Stokes in the attack hoping for a miracle. And Stokes did not let his skipper down.

England knew that Kohli was the difference between win and a loss. The formula was simple for them – Get Kohli, win the game. And Stokes did exactly that. In his very first over, he forced the India star to make one mistake which sealed the visitors’ fate. Kohli played outside the line, slightly across it, with a slightly closed face and was pinned lbw. Three balls later, Stokes dismissed Mohammed Shami to put England well on top.

Hardik Pandya threatened to take the game close. However, Stokes fitting closed the game by sending him back.

However, England will miss Stokes’ services in the upcoming game as it clashes with his trial at Bristol Crown Court on a charge of affray, which starts on Monday (August 5).

Stokes missed the Ashes earlier this year after being arrested while being on a night out in Bristol last September. He was alleged to have been involved in a street brawl outside a pub.

The brawl allegedly left a man with a broken eye socket. In January, this year, the prosecutors had charged Stokes.

The England star has since pleaded not guilty to the charge. He returned to action during the One-day International series against New Zealand. He, however, will have to appear in the court for his trial which will start on August 6.