Tuesday 21 November 2017 06:44, UK
Jonny Bairstow says that he wants Ben Stokes to play a part in the Ashes, and that it would be "amazing" if he were to join his team-mates in Australia.
Stokes was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm following an incident outside a nightclub in Bristol in September, and has been suspended from England duty while police continue their enquiries.
As a result, the Durham all-rounder has not travelled with the England squad to Australia, but Bairstow hasn't given up hope of Stokes joining his team-mates down under.
He said: "It will be amazing if Stokesy comes out here and I'm sure you guys would all think the same. He's a fantastic cricketer.
"We don't know what's going on at the moment, that's completely out of our hands.
"But I'm sure that it will get resolved sooner rather than later, because at the end of the day, we want the best cricketers playing in the Ashes, don't we?
"That's the series we want. We don't want to see guys not playing. The competition levels and the standard go down because of that."
England arrived in Brisbane for the first Test of the series on Sunday morning and, while Bairstow acknowledged that he and his team-mates were enjoying life in Australia, he said they were motivated for success.
The wicket-keeper said: "If you can't enjoy and embrace the country, then there's something wrong with you. It's an amazing country to be able to come and tour.
"If you can't get up for an Ashes series, then what can you get up for? It is an amazing spectacle. It's a worldwide event.
"The motivation's already there."
