Cricket

[Ethiaa]

More shocking was the bloke on Twitter who didn't think it looked like it would hurt anyone. It's a metal tipped crossbow bolt which has come over a set of stands - what do you think it's going to do if it hits you? Bounce off?

[theadore]

Indeed - pretty nuts.

Given that it was fired from outside the ground into the square... presumably unsighted... its a pretty good shot too.

[Gibbon]

Or a really bad one. I got one of Igor's nerf arrows stuck in our oak tree yesterday too.

[Rover the Top]

So, Ben Stokes...

Once upon a time, intervening to stop someone being bottled would be seen as a heroic act...

[Gibbon]

Not to mention alledgedly intervening to stop homophobic abuse.

I’m not sure what’s going on with that.

[Ethiaa]

The continuing to punch the guy after intervening is perhaps the issue

[theadore]

I haven't seen the video but it apparently doesn't look good.

[Rover the Top]

The continuing to punch the guy after intervening is perhaps the issue

I guess the question there is whether you think someone who is prepared to use a bottle as a weapon will walk away quietly if disarmed? I'll put it out there, I don't think I'd be turning my back on them...

[Ethiaa]

Not turning your back possibly not the same as walking forward with fists swinging

[mrblackbat]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/43565737

Smith and Warner banned for a year by Cricket Australia.

[Rover the Top]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/43565737

Smith and Warner banned for a year by Cricket Australia.

And Bancroft for 9 months.

For the offence,viewed in isolation, it seems a lot. But it's hard to believe it's the first time.

[Rover the Top]

Lehmann's quit now too.

[mrblackbat]

Finally.

[theadore]

Ben Stokes cleared of affray

[Rover the Top]

Seemed like a weird trial. Stokes and the two guys he was fighting all tried at once, and the two people who probably would have made key witnesses not called by either side. I'm not really sure how the jury could come to any other verdict from what I've read (which has been weighted towards Stokes part in it all).