England star all-rounder Ben Stokes will not be able to participate in the summer’s Lord’s Test against India after the Bristol Crown Court set his trial for affray charges for August 6.
Stoke’s trial preparation hearing got underway on Monday at Bristol with the England man linking up with the court via a video link to enter his ‘not guilty’ plea.
The 26-year-old is in New Zealand currently with the rest of the England squad for the upcoming two-match Test series and had recently made his return to international cricket after suspension in the preceding ODIs.
Stokes had been indefinitely suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following a video of him in a scuffle with another man outside a Bristol night club surfacing in September last year.
Stokes’ trial will begin on August 6.
The England man had to subsequently miss out on England’s Ashes battle Down Under with Australia with James Anderson replacing him as the vice-captain of the Test squad.
Despite being suspended from international cricket at the time, Stokes went on to become the costliest overseas recruit for the second time in the Indian Premier League with Rajasthan Royals splashing huge cash to secure the England star’s services.
India are set to tour for five Tests, three ODIs and as many T20s starting in July this year. The second Test at Lord’s is scheduled to get underway on August 9. Stokes’ trial begins three days before that and is anticipated to last for approximately a week, thereby ruling him out of the Test.