Chris Woakes reveals England will welcome Ben Stokes with open arms

English all-rounder Ben Stokes recently raised speculations about his possible participation in the ongoing Ashes by flying to New Zealand for a domestic cricket tournament. Stokes, who was initially named in the Ashes squad for the tour of Australia, was stood down owing to his arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm during a brawl in Bristol.

The versatile all-rounder arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday, after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) granted him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) last week. The fact that he has been cleared to travel added to the proximity of New Zealand to Australia, could imply that ECB will attempt to parachute Stokes into their squad immediately after the police investigation into his late-night altercation in Bristol gets resolved.

With a silver lining expected soon, Stokes’ teammate Chris Woakes revealed England will welcome the all-rounder with open arms. The English speedster was quoted as saying by BBC radio, “No one likes to see what he’s been through. Of course, we’d have him here with open arms, I’m sure. Ben’s a world-class cricketer and he’d make any team in the world better so it’d be silly of us to not open it up for him to come into the squad.”

England team served with curfew post midnight

The team, of late, has been facing criticism regarding their off-field behaviour, especially after the suspension of Stokes. And recently, wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow made it to the headlines. Bairstow was found involved in a bizarre clash of heads with Australia’s Cameron Bancroft in a bar four weeks ago.

Thus to keep things under control, coach Andrew Strauss has imposed his players with a curfew post midnight. Earlier, the management had been reluctant to take such action for fear of suffocating the squad on a long tour.

The England side will be facing the Aussies in the historic day-night second Test at the Adelaide Oval from December 2-6 and try to curb Australia from cushioning their 1-0 lead.