England drop Ben Stokes and Alex Hales after all-rounder's arrest

Duo made unavailable after Stokes was arrested in Bristol in early hours of Monday morning.

England's Ben Stokes, second from left, and Alex Hales, second from right, are in trouble. Peter Cziborra / Reuters

England have dropped Ben Stokes and Alex Hales from their side to play West Indies in the fourth one-day international at The Oval on Wednesday, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Tuesday.

The duo have been made unavailable after Stokes was arrested in Bristol in the early hours of Monday morning following England's 124-run win in the third ODI in the southwest city on Sunday.

Hales was with Stokes on Sunday night.

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"Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will not be available for tomorrow's one-day International match against West Indies at The Oval," ECB director of England cricket Andrew Strauss said while reading out a board statement at The Oval on Tuesday.

"Stokes was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning, 25 September, following an incident in Bristol.

"He was held overnight and released under investigation – without charge – late on Monday and will not join the team in London," the statement also read.

ECB's Strauss explains situation

"Hales, who was with Stokes on Sunday night, did not train this morning and has returned voluntarily to Bristol today to help Police with their enquiries.

You will understand that we cannot offer further detail at this stage but will provide any updates when we can."

England are due to name their squad for the Ashes Test series in Australia on Wednesday.

Strauss confirmed that both Durham star Stokes -- a Test regular -- and Nottinghamshire batsman Hales, a fringe candidate, will be considered for the Ashes squad on cricketing grounds alone by the England selectors at this stage.