Ben Stokes should not be allowed to play the Ashes, declares Shane Watson

What's the story?

Adding further fuel to the fire that is the whole Ben Stokes arrest saga, and the will he-won't he whispers making the rounds, former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has weighed in on the matter.

Watson, while speaking to Sydney Morning Herald, stated that Stokes should not take part in the ongoing Ashes series in order to 'set a precedent' and should learn from his mistakes and grow as both a cricketer and an individual.

“I don’t think he should be able to come and play. There needs to be a precedent set, even for his own benefit, to be able to learn from his mistakes that he has and realise that there are consequences for your actions at times. The footage that you see – there’s no hiding nowadays with video phones, with CCTV footage,” Watson said.

In case you didn't know...

Stokes was arrested on the suspicion of causing bodily harm outside a nightclub in Bristol. While he was released without being charged, he was suspended by the ECB, who have maintained that he would only be considered for selection once the police investigation has concluded.

However, Stokes' arrival in New Zealand sparked rumours that indicated he may be heading to Australia to join the English team following their drubbing in the opening Test. While it was later learnt that the all-rounder was there to visit family, the fact that he is likely to turn out for local side Canterbury has done nothing to appease the matter.

The heart of the matter

Watson also added that Stokes will learn from his mistakes and only come back stronger which would bode well for the English in the future. However, things are not looking too rosy for them at the moment, something the 36-year-old alluded to by saying, “There’s no doubt that England are down on confidence because he’s (Stokes) not in the team. The quality and calibre and player that he is, the impact that he has with both bat and ball and also in the field, that’s a huge loss for England. It’s impossible to be able to fill that void. There’s no doubt that England are going to be trying to show the bravado that they have, but it’s just not going to be the same without him in the team.”

What's next?

Watson is currently preparing for his stint in the Big Bash League where he will be captaining the Sydney Thunder.

Stokes, meanwhile, is in all likelihood going to turn out for Canterbury and could well be called up to the Ashes squad if England don't find a foothold in the series.

Author's take

Watson hit the nail on the head with his words about setting a precedent. Players should not be able to get away scot-free however important they are. Budding cricketers who idolise the likes of Stokes need to learn that there will be consequences for their actions.