England batsman Alex Hales has been told that he is not ‘under investigation’ process and is highly likely going to escape the wrath of facing the criminal charges after Ben Stokes savage fight left the 26-year-old former British Army man severely injured.
Hales was quizzed soon after the infamous incident took place in a Bristol’s street near one of the nightclubs. Ian Kelcey, who is the legal representative for the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), has been assisting swashbuckling opener while adding there is no further action taking place.
“I’d be surprised if he did. It’s unlikely from what I’ve seen thus far. He’s in a totally different position to Ben Stokes,” Kelcey was quoted as saying by Press Association Sport.
The latest development revealed opening batsman Hales was grilled on October 06 owing to the deterrent measures by Patchway Police Centre in Bristol over the early-morning incident on September 25.
Pertinently, the 26-year-old promising all-rounder Stokes was arrested soon on charges of causing the bodily harm to Ryan Hale in an altercation were levelled against the Durham-based star cricketer, in the last week of September, this year.
Moreover, the 28-year-old Middlesex-born right-handed batsman Hales was partying alongside Stokes, before he witnessed the wee hours street-fight outside a Bristol pub soon after England thrashed Windies, in the third One-day international of five-match Royal London series which was won by Three Lions by 4-0.
Interestingly, the investigation is being thoroughly carried by Somerset and Avon police.
So much so, the duo missed out on the final two matches against Windies when the incident comes to limelight.
The police stated Hales is not investigation shortly after the Bristol incident association which has had further grabbed the headlines and eventually witnessed the mixed reactions from critics and former players.
Earlier, The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was forced to bar the cricketers in the form of Hales and Stokes until further order after British tabloid The Sun broke the internet by availing the street-brawl CCTV footage.
“With the Ashes just around the corner, it’s important to give the players, the coaching staff and supporters some clarity around a complex situation,” Director of Cricket for ECB Strauss said in a release.
(Read Also: Ashes 2017/18: Absence of Ben Stokes Won’t Distract England: James Anderson)
Seen as the major blow for England’s upcoming Ashes campaign, Stokes who was named in the 16-member squad for traditional series is highly-likely going to miss the five-match Test series which is kick-starting from November 23 in Brisbane.
The lanky fast bowler Steve Finn has replaced Stokes, but the ECB has left the position open for the latter, as soon as the investigation would be over which would further decide the fate of the batting all-rounder.
Concluding, Stokes fetched a fresh central contract from ECB, despite being an investigation by British police after the Bristol fracas.
Hales, who is set to feature in the inaugural edition of increasingly-troubled Twenty20 Global League in November, has also represented England in 11 Tests after starring in 53 ODIs and 48 Twenty20 Internationals.
The limited-overs specialist made his international appearance in August 2011 against India at Manchester.