Stokes tweets England Ashes message

Ben Stokes, England's absent allrounder, sent a message via social media on the eve of the first Ashes Test wishing his team-mates well in their attempts to retain the urn in Australia without him.

Stokes is currently unavailable for selection as police continue to investigate his part in a fight outside a nightclub in Bristol two months ago. He has largely kept off the radar, barring a pair of recent posts on Twitter and Instagram, as England prepared for the Ashes but on Thursday he released a video on Twitter, a couple of hours before the first ball in Brisbane.

"With the Ashes starting very soon, I just wanted to get a message out to all the boys in Australia, wishing them all the best for the first Test match - all the coaches and the backroom staff as well," Stokes said. "I know how much preparation has gone into making sure everyone is right and ready to go, by the looks of it everyone is.

"Just wanted to wish all the fans who've made the long travels out to Australia all the best as well. I hope we can give you a good result. I'll be sat at home watching and following the lads and hoping that do really well."

England have consistently said they are ready to contest the entire series without Stokes and there remains no official word on when the police - and subsequently the ECB's disciplinary committee - are likely to conclude proceedings.