Stokes free to play for England

England all-rounder Ben Stokes on Friday spoke of the “huge burden” he has felt since he was involved in a brawl outside a nightclub last year after learning he will not miss any more cricket.

Stokes was handed an eight-match England ban by the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB’s) discipline commission but those games are deemed to have been served.

Team-mate Alex Hales was given a six-match white-ball ban with two already served and four suspended.

Stokes was fined a total of £30,000 ($38,000) while Hales was fined £17,500, £10,000 of which is suspended.

Stokes, 27, was acquitted of a criminal charge of affray at a trial in August following the incident in Bristol, southwest England, in September 2017.

Hales, 29, was with Stokes during the altercation but did not face criminal charges.

“In total Mr Stokes receives an eight-match ban from England matches,” said a statement from the CDC. “He has already missed these matches and therefore remains eligible for immediate selection.”