LONDON: England will have no qualms about selecting Ben Stokes for next month’s first Test against India, even though the match could finish just a day before the all-rounder’s trial for affray begins.

Stokes was charged by prosecutors back in January following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September last year.

He has since pleaded not guilty to the charge, with his trial set to start on August 6 — the day after the scheduled Aug 1-5 first Test at Edgbaston is due to end.

Given the trial is expected to last between five to seven days, Stokes, a dynamic middle-order batsman and lively seamer who is also one of England’s best fielders, could well miss the second Test of the five-match series that starts at Lord’s on Aug 9.

But Joe Root, England’s Test captain, had no doubt about Stokes being in the right frame of mind to play at Edgbaston despite a looming court appearance.

“We are going to pick our best team and make sure we go into that series with the strongest squad,” Root said.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2018