that is the decision from the england and wales cricket board.ght outside a nightclub in the english city of bristol last september. with more on this, here is our reporterjim lumsden. after almost four months away from the game, a return to international cricket is now on the horizon for ben stokes. the england all—rounder was charged at the start of the week with affray, after a fight outside a bristol nightclub in september. stokes would appear before magistrates in the uk, where he intends to contest the charge. in the interim, the england and wales cricket board now deemed him available for selection. in a statement, the ecb said that... while stokes missed england's ashes defeat in australia, the ecb did allow him to play six matches for canterbury kings in the new zealand domestic cricket league in september. it is there he is expected to make his return for the second half of the triangular t20 series in new zealand. the team then play 51 day international ‘s and two test. now the board had said he is available to play in new zealand, and

stokes missed the ashes with the england and wales cricket board saying he would not be considered forar—old has been charged along with two other men. ireland and ulster winger tommy bowe has announced he will retire at the end of the season but opted to make the announcement through poetry. he earns 69 caps for ireland and played for the british and irish lions posted this earlier. saying. tha nkfully thankfully his rugby is better than his poetry. judd trump is through to the second round of the masters. the englishman managed to survive a superb fightback. trump managed to prevail closing with a break of 85. the former world number one is looking former world number one is looking for his first masters title. when the british alpine skiing team for this year's bookses was announced there was no place for kelly gallagher. the advicely impaired skier won in sochi but could still make it to that plane. our reporter caught up with her in a swiss resort. three, two, one, go. obviously we qualified for the games in terms of selection document, but there is only two spots at the moment. w

the 55—year—old, who was appointed in 2015, told the england and wales cricket board about his decisiongreat britain is aiming for its most successful winter olympics to date, after uk sport set a target of at least five medals from february's games in south korea. the current record is a four—medal haul, set by the team in 1924, and at the 2014 games in sochi. our sports correspondent joe wilson reports. korean cultural centre e central london, for everything the winter games means to the host nation it means more than ever to british sport. an audience gathered to hear the targets. lizzy arnold's goad we one of four won in 2014, five at least are expected this time. can we really be winning more medals, at more sports with more investment?th has to stop somewhere? it a good question. every time it seems to be this will be the best ever this time. you think, is it possible to keep going? the great thing with the winter olympics an paralympics it is a games that is developing in great britain, we have had some really impressive results over the - few impressive results over the past few

the england and wales cricket board said stokes, who hasn't played for england since the incident, islson is at lord's. why can he play now when he couldn't play in the ashes? it isa it is a good question, and it may well seem illogical to some cricket followers. the ecb were waiting to see what the cps decided before they took their next step. we know there isa took their next step. we know there is a charge for ben stokes of affray that he is indeed contesting, and in that he is indeed contesting, and in that context of the ecb are faced with a decision. whilst they wait for the trial, which could be a year ahead, do they let their star player, who they are paying centrally, to sit on the sidelines? they have said they do not think it is there or proportionate to do that, and so he is available for selection again. we have seen him playing club cricket in new zealand already, whilst under investigation. clearly representing england is a significant step up. there is the image that it projects, but also the practicalities and complexities, and it is likely that in the mansour heads s

the england and wales cricket board said that stokes, who hasn't played for england since the incidentd in february. north and south korea have agreed to march together under a single flag at the opening ceremony of the winter olympics next month. the two countries have also announced they will field their first ever joint team for the women's ice hockey event at the games being hosted by the south. it's the result of the first diplomatic talks between the neighbours for more than two years. 0ur correspondent, sophie long, is in seoul. sophie, what is your reading of the significance of what's been announced ? significance of what's been announced? well, huw, they are sending a large delegation, some 550 people. there will be 230 cheerleaders. 140 artistic performers and 30 strong taekwondo squad. the most significant importance is this announcement that they will have a joint ice hockey team. that will be the first time athletes from both koreas will compete together in the same teem at an olympic games. they will re—open the cross—border road for the first time in nearly two years. t

he was charged with affray two days ago and the england and wales cricket board have now decided to allowurn. in a statement they say... our reporter ade adedoyin says the plan is for stokes to join up with england for t20s in new zealand next month. tuesday the 13th of february, there is a t20 in new zealand followed by five 50 over matches and two test series. there is every possibility that on the 13th of february he will be back playing for england in new zealand. as far as playing on english soil at lord's, england have a test series against pakistan in may. depending on how the legal process plays out he could be in action at lord's in may. england's rugby union head coach, eddie jones has signed a contract extension to stay in the role until 2021. but he won't go on beyond that. jones took overjust over two years ago, and has won 22 of his 23 tests in charge. his original deal was due to end after next year's rugby world cup injapan. british number 2 kyle edmund is through to round 3 of the australian open. he barely gave denis istomin a chance in the 6—2, 6—2, 6—4 victory overnigh

it's feeling almost springlike in the london region but towards the south—west of england and wales cricket boardcome. further snow showers, particularly over higher ground, the western half of scotla nd over higher ground, the western half of scotland where we have an amber warning in force. also further rain, sleet and snow showers for northern ireland into northern england. for eastern scotland and the east of the pennines, quite a lot of dry, bright weather, and some sunshine to take us weather, and some sunshine to take us through the afternoon across east anglia and the south—east. drift towards the south—west of england and why is, it's a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers. temperatures around 3—7, but when you add on the cool north—westerly wind it's feeling subzero for many others particularly across parts of scotla nd others particularly across parts of scotland and northern ireland. into this evening, slowly the wintry showers in the north tend to ease away, then we turn our attention to this batch of wet weather. rain moving in from the south—west. as it bonds into the cold air

stokes missed the ashes series, with the england and wales cricket board saying he would not be consideredmund is through to round two of the australian open for only the second time in his career. he might be the only british male in the draw, but he enjoyed his biggest win to date, beating the 11th seed kevin anderson in five sets. he'll face denis isstomin next. just overawed, for personal satisfaction, the hours you put in, the training, etc. so many things like that. just those terrible results just make it really feel good and worth it, basically. so, really happy. rafa nadal took just 24 really happy. rafa nadal tookjust 24 minutes to beat the dominican player with a loss of just three beat the dominican player with a loss ofjust three games. and nadal beatin loss ofjust three games. and nadal beat in alaska but my final by roger federer. the runner—up in last's women's single is out. venus williams was beaten in straight sets by belinda bencic, who is 17 years younger than williams. a 16th to win in a row. the 20 rolled dropped to 318 in the world last year due to injury but she is

some breaking news coming into us from the england and wales cricket board that decided ben stokes should while he awaits trial for affray. he be considered for selection while he awaits trialfor affray. he is be considered for selection while he awaits trial for affray. he is due tojoin the awaits trial for affray. he is due to join the team next month. he awaits trial for affray. he is due tojoin the team next month. he has been charged by the cps over a bristol last year and having been unavailable since his initial arrest he is free now to resume his international career during the new zealand leg of the england tour. the statement says given the decision to charge him, his decision to contest the charge and the potential length of the trial it would not be reasonable proportion of four ben stokes to remain unavailable for another long period so unavailable for another long period so they have decided he should be available for selection while he awaits trial. the government will come under pressure in parliament today for clarity on the future of services and construction giant caril