Ben Stokes cannot play a part in the Ashes after the ‘disgusting’ footage emerged showing the England all-rounder fighting outside a Bristol bar.
That is the opinion of Australia batsman David Warner’s wife, Candice, who does not envisage Stokes lining up for the tourists when the first Test begins in Brisbane on November 23.
‘They all want to play against the best, but I don’t think he can come, I really don’t. That footage is disgusting, it is really, really bad.
‘Even if he’s not charged, David wasn’t charged when he hit Joe Root, he was banned for two games. Why wouldn’t Ben Stokes get reprimanded? This is a lot worse, this is way worse.’
Two gay men have leapt to Stokes’ defence after recalling the incident which happened in late September, saying he acted as a ‘hero’ by stepping in as they faced homophobic abuse.