- Tue Aug 27, 2019 2:05 pm
#29042
Well Ben Stokes was found not guilty by 12 good men/ women and true, so being discarded by England would have opened another legal can of worms. He was fined and left out of the touring squad so some action was taken. As for a conspiracy, does that include the jury? A conspiracy would have meant it all being hushed up, not a public trial in a crown court.
Of course he may have gone a bit too far, and Alex Hales apparently called for him to stop, but without some intervention there would have another homophobic attack to report. Doubtless the two were not expecting someone to stop them, but the men they were tormenting are extremely glad that he did. I am not making a definitive judgement as I was not at the trial and know from Jury Service how the two versions of the same story can be completely different, but the verdict was innocent so without new evidence that is the end of the matter. To be honest if I was being mugged by a couple of yobs I wouldn't be too concerned if anyone intervening gave them a good hiding, might well thinking scaring them off would have been enough in hindsight, but not in the moment. I don't advocate vigilantism as invariably the wrong people are targeted, but intervention is a different matte, then it is down to reasonable force etc.
Whether Stokes and Hales should have been out and about and 'in drink' at that hour is another matter, but cricket does have a history of players being out late the worse for wear and sometimes being rather admired for it. Let's just hope that Ben Stokes has learnt his lesson and in the future will settle for the odd pint followed by an early night with a good book to read, or perhaps this Forum. I suspect the bottom line of all this is the British habit, favoured by so many, of getting tanked up for the slightest excuse, on the pretext of it being the only way they can enjoy themselves. Look how amusing it was thought after the 2005 Ashes that the England players looked so hung over for the bus parade, and every sporting success calls for those who won to get completely and hopelessly drunk are called for by commentators et al. Finished now I'm starting to depress myself, and I'm normally such a happy soul.
Of course he may have gone a bit too far, and Alex Hales apparently called for him to stop, but without some intervention there would have another homophobic attack to report. Doubtless the two were not expecting someone to stop them, but the men they were tormenting are extremely glad that he did. I am not making a definitive judgement as I was not at the trial and know from Jury Service how the two versions of the same story can be completely different, but the verdict was innocent so without new evidence that is the end of the matter. To be honest if I was being mugged by a couple of yobs I wouldn't be too concerned if anyone intervening gave them a good hiding, might well thinking scaring them off would have been enough in hindsight, but not in the moment. I don't advocate vigilantism as invariably the wrong people are targeted, but intervention is a different matte, then it is down to reasonable force etc.
Whether Stokes and Hales should have been out and about and 'in drink' at that hour is another matter, but cricket does have a history of players being out late the worse for wear and sometimes being rather admired for it. Let's just hope that Ben Stokes has learnt his lesson and in the future will settle for the odd pint followed by an early night with a good book to read, or perhaps this Forum. I suspect the bottom line of all this is the British habit, favoured by so many, of getting tanked up for the slightest excuse, on the pretext of it being the only way they can enjoy themselves. Look how amusing it was thought after the 2005 Ashes that the England players looked so hung over for the bus parade, and every sporting success calls for those who won to get completely and hopelessly drunk are called for by commentators et al. Finished now I'm starting to depress myself, and I'm normally such a happy soul.
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