The re-emergence of Stokes on social media in recent days has fuelled speculation he could play some part in the Ashes, although opener and ex-captain Alastair Cook admitted England had accepted the 26-year-old was very unlikely to be touring this summer.

First, there was video footage of him back in training at Durham, and on Tuesday he responded sharply to a dismissive claim about the England squad by former Australian opener Matthew Hayden that he didn't "even know who half of these guys are".

"Hayden says he doesn't know who half our squad is ... only 2 from the squad haven't played at International level ... he's a cricket pundit yeah??" Stokes hit back on Twitter.

It was a far more measured response than the violent one he issued on a Bristol street in late September, when he came to blows with two men in the hours after a one-day international between England and West Indies.

As a result of that and the investigation into his conduct by Avon and Somerset Police, letting rip on his smartphone may well be the extent of Stokes' involvement in this series.

"I think it's probably disappointing for the England team and the country," Warner said of Stokes' absence in Australia. "He's let a lot of people down. I would have loved for him to be out here because I know what a competitor he is on the field. He is a world-class player."

If Stokes is charged by police over his punching spree, he would be no chance of joining his Ashes teammates, but even if he is cleared there has been no suggestion that the England and Wales Cricket Board, which will conduct its own disciplinary process, would permit him to tour Australia.

There is no particular ill-will between the all-rounder and Australian players. He is regarded by them as a very affable character off the ground, albeit one susceptible to a bit of white-line fever when alcohol is brought into the picture.

"It's obviously up to the English police first to think that that's right, with punishment or no punishment," Warner said. "At the end of the day, he knows he's made a mistake and it's about him getting that respect back from his players and fellow countrymen. If he does come out here, we'll wish him well.

"Hopefully he brings the fieriness that he does to the competition. I wish everyone well. We're all sportsmen and we're trying to achieve the same thing and that's to win. I wish everyone good luck."

Stokes would appear to need every bit of it based on the now well-worn footage of him flooring an Afghanistan veteran after a brawl erupted outside a nightclub. So will England without him, a reality they have come around to despite the murmurs about him making a surprise appearance here.

"Since we've arrived here we've accepted it would be very unlikely that Ben would be here, so it's about dealing with that," Cook said at the Gabba on Tuesday. "Ben could have got injured in the first warm-up game, done a hamstring or a knee and we wouldn't have him. You can't just always pin your hopes on one guy.

"If there is a bonus of him making the trip at some stage that would be great, but I can honestly say it hasn't been spoken about in the changing room. It's no good for us to talk about that. It's obviously a sad situation. We all wish Ben was here, he is a good guy. We know his family really well and all that kind of stuff. It's a shame for him he's missing a big series."