Ben Stokes 'devastated and fragile' as England cricketer apologises following release of alleged fight video
The ECB confirm they could take interim action today against Stokes
Ben Stokes has apologised to the England and Wales Cricket Board following his arrest this week and is said to be "fragile and devastated", with video footage of the alleged incident in Bristol emerging overnight.
Stokes was arrested on suspicion of cause of actual bodily harm on Monday following a night out in Bristol city centre.
The England international was released without charge pending further investigation, but a video of the alleged incident was released by The Sun late on Wednesday night, shortly after Stokes was named in England’s Ashes squad that will face Australia this winter.
The BBC report that Stokes has apologised to the ECB and is devastated and fragile, before adding that the Durham all-rounder is well aware of the magnitude of what has happened.
A criminal investigation still in progress, and the ECB will wait until the conclusion of that investigation before taking definitive action themselves, which could include him being removed from the Ashes squad.
The Sun obtained a video from a camera phone that shows a man, alleged to be Stokes, and three others that he appears to be with being confronted by two others in the street. One of two not with Stokes is seen to be carrying a bottle, before a brawl breaks out and the group starts fighting.
The man alleged to be Stokes starts to grapple with another on the floor, before throwing a series of punches both on the ground and once he has got back to his feet. One such punch leaves the person struck motionless on the street. A 27-year-old was later taken to hospital with facial injuries, Avon and Somerset police confirmed earlier this week.
Stokes suffered a fractured finger in the alleged incident and could be stripped of the England vice-captaincy following an internal ECB review, which director of cricket Andrew Strauss confirmed on Wednesday.
Following the release of the video late on Wednesday night, the ECB issued an initial statement that read: “We have seen this footage for the first time tonight - when posted by The Sun.
“There is an ongoing police investigation, which will look at all available evidence, and we do have to respect that process.”