Joe Root says England are planning as if they will be without Ben Stokes for the entire Ashes tour. All-rounder Stokes will not fly out with the rest of the squad to Australia on Saturday, having been suspended following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September.
The vice-captain, 26, remains under investigation after being arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.
Stokes, who also suffered a broken finger, has not been ruled out of the five-match Test series which begins in Brisbane on November 23, but he is out of consideration for selection until further notice.
