Ben Stokes weds fiancee as he hides broken hand bandage
ENGLAND cricketer Ben Stokes married fiancee Clare Ratcliffe in a ceremony attended by his teammates yesterday – after taking a bandage off his broken hand.
Ben Stokes seen with bandaged hand as he weds fiancée
The Test vice-captain, 26, sported the bandage – covering the right hand he injured in an altercation in Bristol last month – when he arrived at St Mary the Virgin Church in East Brent, Somerset.
But when he kissed his new bride and posed for pictures outside the church after the ceremony the bandage was gone.
Wedding guests included current England Test captain Joe Root, former captain Alastair Cook, fast bowler Stuart Broad and Durham colleague Paul Collingwood. Guests sang hymns including Jerusalem during the 40-minute service.
Last week representatives of Stokes said he will offer a full explanation of the incident in Bristol “when the time is right”.
Ben gives wife Clare a peck at the church yesterday
Wedding guests included current England Test captain Joe Root
The all-round player was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm following a disturbance outside a nightclub in the city on September 25.
He will not travel to Australia with the rest of the England squad for this winter’s Ashes series as he waits to learn whether he will face charges.
If no further action is taken, he could still compete in the five-Test series, which starts on November 23.