England allrounder Ben Stokes has failed to fire on return to action and with Cricket Australia refusing to rake over his Ashes prospects.
Stokes flopped on Sunday playing for Canterbury in a New Zealand domestic one-day game, making just two from seven balls before conceding 49 runs from nine wicketless overs in a game at Rangiora north of Christchurch.
It was his first competitive outing since being involved in a brawl outside a nightclub in Bristol, England, on September 25.
UK police have finalised their investigation into the fight with prosecutors now deciding whether to charge England's vice-captain.
If cleared, Stokes could play in the third Ashes Test against Australia in Perth from December 14.
But Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland is distancing himself and his country from the controversy.
"I don’t think it’s any of my business really," Sutherland told ABC radio on Sunday.
"Our players and the way the Australian cricket team plays is our business.
"It’s the (England and Wales Cricket Board's) business how they deal with the Ben Stokes issue and I’m happy with that."
The ECB suspended Stokes indefinitely after the street-fight which left a man with a fractured eye socket.
The ban applies only to England matches, with the board not objecting to Stokes playing in New Zealand, his country of birth.
The 26-year-old signed a contract with Canterbury earlier in the week, fuelling speculation of an Ashes return but Sutherland was none the wiser.
"It's a quantum leap in terms of how much closer he is to us to where he was a week ago," he said.
"I don’t know what to read into it but I know from an ECB perspective, it’s complicated.
"And whilst from time to time (Australia) have had issues with players in disciplinary related activities, we haven’t had that overlay of a police investigation going on at the same time.
"I don’t know the detail of that ... and I wouldn’t want to make judgment on that.
"If Ben Stokes is available to play, he’s available to play. Our guys will be ready for it."
On Sunday, Stokes batted at No.4 but was bowled when he played a ball onto his stumps.
He was also unsuccessful with the ball in an expensive spell which included being smacked for six by a lower order batsman.
“It’s expected he was going to be a little bit rusty," Canterbury coach Gary Stead said.
Stokes was expected to play for Canterbury again in another one-day match in Auckland on Wednesday.
