NEW DELHI: England allrounder Ben Stokes is set to miss this summer’s second Test match against India after pleading not guilty to affray in the ongoing case related to a Bristol nightclub scuffle in September, which means that the matter will be tried by a jury.
Stokes, 26, missed the Ashes following his involvement in an incident in Bristol in September that left him facing a trial for affray. On Monday at Bristol Crown Court, he denied the charges of affray via video call from New Zealand where he is part of England’s squad.
The trial date has been set for August 6, which clashes with England’s Test versus Virat Kohli’s India which gets underway on August 9 at the Lord’s. The trial is expected to last between five to seven days.
India are set to tour England for five Tests, three ODIs and as many T20Is. The Test series starts from August 1 at Edgbaston.
Also charged in the case are two men, Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, who like Stokes both pleaded not guilty on the grounds of “self-defence and defence of another”.
Stokes returned to England’s set up for the limited-overs leg of their tour of New Zealand, scoring 141 runs and taking five wickets in the 3-2 ODI series win.
