England 'kittens' without Stokes: Richards
Cricket legend Viv Richards has labelled England "kittens" without Ben Stokes ahead of an expected decision on the vice-captain's Ashes participation.
England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tom Harrison reaffirmed on Tuesday they will decide Stokes' future after a police investigation has concluded.
The star all-rounder is waiting to hear if he will be charged after being arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm following a late-night fracas in Bristol on September 25.
There's speculation of an announcement by UK police as early as Wednesday, just over two weeks from the start of the first Test in Brisbane.
West Indian batting great Richards said England needed Stokes in Australia, with the 26-year-old staying at home as he also rehabilitates a hand injury sustained in the brawl.
"I'm a fan of Ben Stokes," Richards told the BBC.
"England do need that all-rounder with a little bit of heart, also stomach into the game as well, solid physically, and I think you're going to need all this stuff Down Under.
"The Aussies, in my opinion, they bring it.
"Having someone like Stokes, who's pretty strong in himself about how he feels, the confidence he brings, is going to be crucial Down Under.
"Without Ben Stokes Down Under, the English team is going to look like kittens."
As well as the police investigation, the ECB will complete its own inquiry into Stokes' behaviour before deciding whether he can play any part in the Ashes series.
"What happened was wrong, there's no question about that," said Harrison on Tuesday.
"You don't want to see your sport in that position and there are consequences of that. We're in a holding pattern at the minute.
"There's a process with the police and then a disciplinary process. As you'll appreciate, these things take time and that's the pattern we're in at the moment."
Stokes and Alex Hales, who was also involved in the Bristol incident, have been suspended until further notice.
England coach Trevor Bayliss says he plans to be without Stokes for the entire Ashes series, while director of England cricket Andrew Strauss admitted on Monday his absence was a "blow".
