Stokes’ participation in IPL looks in jeopardy

This decision will help us in the weeks ahead and give every player and the whole England set-up the best chance to focus on the challenge ahead in Australia,” said Andrew Strauss, the England team director.

“Steven is a high-quality cricketer, with considerable experience of both international cricket and Australian conditions.

It is a surprising decision to pick Finn, as England will miss Stokes’s batting in Australia, but not necessarily his bowling.

Privately he has accepted his Ashes tour hopes are over, but it is a very messy situation for all concerned.

England had wanted to release it early so players could plan their Twenty20 contracts for the first half of the winter.

He signed only a one-year deal with Pune and, if he goes into the player pool in 2018, can expect to be wanted by several franchises, which will inflate his price further.

He has been placed on indefinite suspension from England duty by the ECB, although officially it has not used the word suspension under pressure from his lawyers, who fear prejudicing any proceedings.

He could be refused clearance to play, which would cost Stokes a fortune and could be challenged.

—The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2017