Ashes 2017-18: Steven Smith Says Ben Stokes Absence Will Be A Huge Blow For England
Oct 15, 2017 at 2:12 PM
The Ashes fever has gripped the cricketing fraternity and the Australian skipper Steven Smith is no different, and this fever has forced the skipper to speak on the Ben Stokes for the first time.
Ben Stokes is under investigation for a brawl with a 27-year-old man outside a bar after England’s win against West Indies in Bristol. Stokes was arrested by the police, but was released and is under investigation for the incident and remains suspended by the ECB.
The 26-year-old’s fate will now be decided in the next two weeks after a police investigation. The three lions will leave for Australia on 28th October, 2017.
The first Ashes Test will begin in the last week of November at Gabba in Brisbane. Meanwhile, the ECB is undertaking its investigation of the incidence.
England and Wales Cricket board has confirmed that Ben Stokes will not travel to Australia with the rest of the team for the Ashes. Stokes not going Down Under for the Ashes might give the hosts advantage over their arch-rivals in the upcoming series. With Australia hosting the series, this is an excellent chance for the hosts to regain the “URN”. In a radio interview, Australian skipper Steven Smith said that Ben Stokes absence would be a huge blow for the England team as Stokes is one of the best players in the world. He said,
“Whether he comes or not, that’s out of our control, you always want to come up against the best and test your skills against the best. That’s what Test cricket is all about. There’s no doubt Ben Stokes is one of the best players around the world at the moment.”
Smith and Stokes both play for the same franchisee Rising Pune SuperGiants in the Indian Premier League. When he was asked what punishment he would have been panned out if an Australian player was in such a situation, he said,
“I certainly don’t condone that kind of behaviour, hopefully it never happens to one of our boys.”
England will leave for Australia on 28th October and will play two warm-up matches before the first Test scheduled to begin on 23rd November at Gabba in Brisbane.