BRISTOL: Ben Stokes, the England cricketer, has been cleared of affray after a fight outside a Bristol nightclub.

A jury of six men and six women, after almost two and a half hours of deliberation, decided at Bristol Crown Court to acquit the Durham all-rounder after he gave evidence saying he had acted in self-defence.

Stokes, who missed the disastrous Ashes winter tour of Australia, has been recalled to the England squad for the third Test against India which starts later this week.

Stokes was on trial alongside Ryan Ali, 28, whom he was alleged to have punched unconscious in the brawl near Mbargo nightclub in the early hours of 25 September last year. Ali was cleared of the same charge.

A third man, Ryan Hale, 27, was acquitted of the charge last Thursday on the directions of the judge, Peter Blair QC.

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