The England and Wales cricket board has decided Ben Stokes should be considered for selection while he awaits trial for affray, with the all-rounder due to rejoin the team in February.

Stokes has been charged by the Crown Prosecution Service over an incident in Bristol in September but, having been unavailable since his initial arrest, he is now free to resume his international career during the New Zealand leg of England’s forthcoming Twenty20 Tri-Series.

An ECB statement read: “Given the CPS decision to charge him and two others with affray, confirmation of his intention to contest the charge and the potential length of time to trial, the Board agreed that it would not be fair, reasonable or proportionate for Ben Stokes to remain unavailable for a further indeterminate period.

“ECB fully respects the legal process and the player’s intention to defend himself against the charge.”