JONNY BAIRSTOW is one of three England players fined for “professional misconduct” as the Ben Stokes scandal rumbles on.
Ashes wicketkeeper Bairstow and fast bowlers Liam Plunkett and Jake Ball were yesterday punished for staying out late on the same night as Stokes’ street brawl in Bristol.
The trio were fined and warned after England supremo Andrew Strauss launched a probe in the wake of Stokes being arrested for suspected actual bodily harm.
But Strauss insisted their after-hours return to the team hotel had nothing to do with the incident on September 25 involving Stokes and Alex Hales.
England also confirmed Stokes has been banned from flying Down Under with the rest of the squad on October 28 after The Sun yesterday revealed he is almost certain to miss the whole winter.
Middlesex fast bowler Steven Finn – sent home early from the last Ashes tour in 2013-14 because he was deemed “not selectable” – was named as Stokes’ replacement.
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But 6ft 7in Finn took 8-79 for Middlesex against Lancashire days before the Ashes squad was named and England supremo Andrew Strauss believes he is close to his best.
Strauss said: “Steven is a high-quality cricketer with considerable experience of international cricket and Australian conditions.
“The selectors believe he will add to England’s options and the squad will be further supported by the arrival of the Lions in Australia in November.”
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