So Ben Stokes
has been acquitted of affray following last year’s incident outside a Bristol
nightclub. The multi-millionaire cricketer, at the peak of his powers, can now go back to his normal
routine of thumping sixes, bowling bouncers and snarling at everyone within a
twenty-yard radius as if nothing untoward has happened.
I sincerely
hope not. Stokes is a very, very lucky boy. He should buy lottery tickets in every country forthwith. Had the judge allowed prosecutors
to claim the lesser charge of ABH I suspect the verdict may not have gone his
way and he might well be facing a prison sentence instead of a fast-track return to
the England Test team. Michael Vaughan and his ilk assert that the all-rounder
has been found not guilty and therefore should be welcomed back to the national
side but that is a very naïve view.
Stokes, and
his peacemaking partner in after-hours boozing, Alex Hales, have some important
questions to answer. The video evidence in the trial clearly depict Stokes
going berserk, throwing punches with fierce abandon, knocking two men to the ground
where he continued his violent assault. Is that the action of a sporting hero
and icon for thousands of children? The jury found him not guilty of affray because
they accepted he acted in self-defence and/or he wasn’t endangering others in
the vicinity.
The latter
may well have been the case but if that was self-defence I dread to think what
an unprovoked assault by a seriously inebriated Stokes would look like. Hales
clearly tried to stop his friend going too far but Stokes looked intent on
causing two men serious damage. That is beyond doubt thanks to the CCTV, and must
impel the ECB to act. The loss of an Ashes winter may well have cost him a few
runs, wickets and appearance bonuses but he has had disciplinary problems with
England and the Lions before. I really
hope the ECB don’t cop out. Removing his central contract would be fitting
punishment but I daresay that won’t happen because he’ll probably do a
Pietersen, raise two fingers and make shedloads of dollars in T20 around the
world. Mind you, his replacement Chris Woakes didn't do so badly at Lord's, did he?
It’s a difficult
dilemma but if no action is taken against this brilliant box-office cricketer
but part-time thug, what kind of message does this send others – in or outside
sport - with a similar cavalier attitude to life?
