When the dust settles on Ben Stokes saga, all concerned must take a long look at themselves

Ben Stokes’ efforts to redeem himself could begin as soon as Saturday if he is selected by England for the Third Test at Trent Bridge.

A five-for, a blistering century or even one of his moments of magic in the field will for some start, act by act, to consign this sorry saga to the rearview mirror.

It is a strange situation that that process can begin before the inquisition has even ended, but that is where Stokes finds himself. It is where he has found himself since he made his first comeback in New Zealand in February — a brilliant all-round showing meant he was man of the match in his second game back. He won a Test match at Edgbaston, while Alex Hales, who was with Stokes in a Bristol nightclub that fateful night last September, played a key hand in guiding England to their highest-ever ODI score.

It is not over yet, though, with the Cricket Discipline Commission’s hearings with Stokes and Hales to decide any sanctions still to come, probably not for weeks as both sides prepare their case.

The whole thing has been sad and error-laden — from the players’ initial behaviour to the Crown Prosecution Service’s performance since being handed the case. When the affair is finally settled and any punishments are handed down, it will be time for all sides to take a long, hard look at themselves.

Stokes must not be allowed to believe that being found not guilty of affray meant he has nothing to answer for. His behaviour, and the rigmarole that resulted from it, has tarnished the image of the game, both in terms of the belief that the England team are binge-drinkers to the ECB’s attempts to usher in new sponsors and stakeholders and, most importantly, a new audience, especially families.

He has brought the game into disrepute and someone — his agent Neil Fairbrother, or great mates Joe Root and Jos Buttler, perhaps — needs to yank him to one side and remind him that there is a way back, but he must mellow. A peak year, his peak Ashes tour, has been wasted, but the World Cup awaits.

Hales, too, whose involvement that night became grizzlier as Stokes’s trial went on. As Gordon Cole QC, defending Stokes, said: “The evidence of Alex Hales’s involvement may have made a difference to the jury.” Remember, he had initially told police he was not at the scene. The only punishment he has received so far is for two ODIs last September, so the CDC hearing could be the most uncomfortable he has found himself yet.

There is much for those in charge of the players to consider, too. Steps were taken to tighten up in Australia, but only after players had been a little slow to adapt to a post-Stokes world.

The Jonny Bairstow “headbutt” and Ben Duckett “drink pouring” incidents were storms in teacups, with a curfew brought in between them and security reporting the latter on a team-sanctioned night out. ECB chief Tom Harrison subsequently wrote to the players, reminding them of their responsibilities and — with the curfew still in place — there have been no issues since.

The ECB will discipline Stokes and Hales, and rightly so. But perhaps they need to address their own handling of players and situations, too.

No one does an internal review quite like a sports governing body, so expect this saga to run a little longer still.