England legend Kevin Pietersen says Ben Stokes should not travel to Australia for the upcoming Ashes series as the investigation continues into an incident involving the star all-rounder in Bristol late last month.
Stokes was arrested on suspicion of causing bodily harm following England's ODI match against West Indies and despite teammate Alex Hales being with Stokes at the time, Hales is unlikely to face charges according to his lawyer.
But Pietersen, who is no stranger to being in the spotlight himself as an English cricket, has said there is no other option than for Stokes to miss out on the Australian summer.
“Whether you like it or not, you become someone that people look up to. Someone that kids look up to," Pietersen said in an interview with The Sunday Times.
“You cannot play for your country if you carry on like that. You cannot represent that badge."
The video footage of Stokes outside the Bristol bar is quite simply damning and disturbing, with Stokes being publicly crucified for his actions.
“I can hardly watch the bit at the end, it is horrendous. That 45-second video is brutal," KP added.
"The more you watch it the more shocking it is. I have watched it with some influential leaders in business and the general view was, ‘you cannot represent your country with a video like that going around’. It is a view I agree with.
“The more that you watch that video, the worse it gets. It is horrible, I can hardly watch the bit at the end, it is horrendous.”
While Pietersen condemned Stokes' actions, he went on to describe the fiery cricketer as one of the “real good guys in the dressing room."
This incident is not Stokes' first run in with the law since being in the public eye, following an arrest in 2011 while on tour with the England Lions.
Pietersen knows the reception that Stokes would receive should he tour Australia this summer and has warned England against picking him.
“Australia is a hostile place and I don’t think with his personality, at least from what we have seen, I just don’t think it will work in Australia. Not this time,” Pietersen said.
“I wanted to look for excuses because I really like Stokesy and love watching him smash it.
“As a bloke he is one of the real good guys in the dressing room. He is a funny guy, just the heart and soul of the dressing room. I want to feel sorry for him.
“The world has seen this video. You cannot walk on proud as punch representing your country after this.
“Whatever the rights and wrongs of the case, I just don’t think you can play for England right now.
“People get fined and suspended for bad timekeeping, swearing, for appealing too much. I don’t think that you can represent your country in the next Test match after that.”
The first Ashes Test begins in Brisbane on November 23.
