Alex Hales is not expecting to face a criminal charge for his part in the early hours incident in Bristol that has rocked English cricket – and left Ben Stokes unlikely to play in the Ashes – after being told that he is “not under investigation” by the police. Hales, 28, was interviewed under caution at Patchway Police Centre in Bristol on Friday afternoon about the street fight at 2.35am on 25 September that led to Stokes being arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm before being released under investigation. Avon and Somerset police, who are conducting the investigation, declined to comment when contacted on Saturday. No one has yet come forward in response to their appeal, issued on 29 September, for two witnesses to the incident to get in touch. While Hales is currently unavailable for international selection pending the outcome of the ECB’s internal case, he is, in theory, free to play domestic cricket as it stands.

Source: The Guardian October 07, 2017 13:03 UTC