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ECB charge Ben Stokes, Alex Hales with bringing the game into disrepute

The independent Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) on Tuesday confirmed that Ben Stokes and Alex Hales have each been charged by the ECB with bringing the game into disrepute.

Ben Stokes was cleared of affray charges by a jury at Bristol Crown Court
Ben Stokes was cleared of affray charges by a jury at Bristol Crown Court

The independent Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) on Tuesday confirmed that Ben Stokes and Alex Hales have each been charged by the ECB with bringing the game into disrepute.

Each player has been charged with two counts of breaching ECB Directive 3.3 and will be required to attend a CDC Disciplinary Panel Hearing in accordance with the CDC Regulations.

Stokes was cleared of affray charges by a jury at Bristol Crown Court. Stokes and England teammate Hales were involved in a brawl outside a Bristol club which left two men unconscious.

After a footage of the incident emerged, Stokes lost his place as England vice-captain and missed the Ashes tour of Australia last month. Later, after putting up a match-winning performance at Edgbaston against India, he missed the following Test on account of his hearing for affray.

ECB Directive 3.3 states: “No Participant may conduct themself in a manner or do any act or omission at any time which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any Cricketer or group of Cricketers into disrepute.”

In an international career that began in 2011, Stokes has featured in 45 Test matches, 70 ODIs and 22 T20Is. He was a key member of the Durham team that lifted the County Championship in 2013 and was subsequently selected for the Ashes tour of Australia, during which he scored his maiden Test century in a 0-5 whitewash [2013-14].

Among the highlights of his Test career have been match-winning innings of 92 and 101 in a Lord’s victory over New Zealand, an epic 258 from 198 balls against South Africa in Cape Town and 6/36 in an Ashes-clinching victory at Trent Bridge in 2015.

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