The sight of Ben Stokes wandering through Heathrow Airport, sporting his full cricket kit, fuelled extensive rumours on social media that he was heading to Australia to reinforce England’s Ashes squad in the wake of their defeat in the first Test at Brisbane.
However, the truth proved to be more prosaic. In response to wildfire rumours on social media, the ECB confirmed that Stokes was making a private trip to New Zealand to spend time with his family.
His travel arrangements had not been arranged by the ECB, and he was not headed either to link up with the Ashes squad, or the England Lions, who are currently in Queensland shadowing the main squad, or any other official training camps with the England set-up.
Stokes, who was arrested in Bristol on September 25, remains under investigation by Avon & Somerset Police, following allegations of Actual Bodily Harm.
Hearing that Stokesy’s at Heathrow…
— Phil Walker (@Phil_Wisden) November 27, 2017
Here he is!!! pic.twitter.com/jC1z0h74UQ
— Ross (@rossco_1990) November 27, 2017
I have a funny feeling @benstokes38 is jumping on an A380 heading to Oz! #ashes
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) November 27, 2017
A recall to England’s full squad remains highly unlikely, given that the ECB are waiting to see if the police press charges before they make any decision on his future.
However, the board has made no secret of its desire to get him back on the field at the earliest opportunity, with Tom Harrison, the CEO, saying recently that they wished to “rehabilitate his reputation on the field”.
The news of Stokes’ movements come in the wake of another embarrassing saga for the ECB, folowing the revelation that Jonny Bairstow “headbutted” Cameron Bancroft, the Australia opener, on a night out in Perth at the start of the Ashes tour.
Despite insisting that the Bairstow incident had been ‘blown out of all proportion’, Andrew Strauss, the England team director, was forced to act in response, instigating a midnight curfew for the Ashes squad, while insisting they needed to be smarter if they are to improve the perception the public currently have of them.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo