England will welcome Ben Stokes with open arms, says Chris Woakes

A day after suspended English all-rounder Ben Stokes raised speculation of his possible participation in the ongoing Ashes by flying to New Zealand for a domestic cricket tournament, his teammate Chris Woakes said England will welcome Stokes with open arms.

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Stokes was initially named in the Ashes squad for the tour of Australia but was stood down following his arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm during a brawl in Bristol during England's one-day series against the West Indies two months ago.

The 26-year-old all-rounder arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday, after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last week granted him a No Objection Certificate (NOC).

The fact that he has been cleared to travel, added to the proximity of New Zealand to Australia, means that ECB will attempt to parachute Stokes into their squad immediately after resolution of the police investigation into his late-night altercation in Bristol.