Joe Clarke will be free to resume his career after a charge of affray was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Clarke, the Nottinghamshire top-order batter, appeared at Welshpool Magistrates' Court in June charged with affray following an incident in Powys last year.
He maintained his innocence throughout, however and, after a review of the evidence conducted by the Crown Prosecution Service, the charges against him have been dropped.
Clarke is arguably England's best uncapped T20 player. He is averaging more than 35 with a strike rate of almost 200 in this year's Vitality Blast and would surely, had the case not been hanging over him, have been pressing for inclusion in England's limited-overs squad. Aged only 25, there is no reason to think he cannot now push on to play international cricket.
"A number of media outlets reported that, following an incident in July last year, Joe Clarke had been charged with affray," a statement released by Phoenix, the management company that look after his interests, said. "Joe maintained his innocence throughout and cooperated fully with police in providing an account of the incident. Appearing before Welshpool Magistrates Court in June, Joe entered a not-guilty plea.
"We are pleased to advise that after a review of the evidence conducted by the Crown Prosecution Service following Joe's first appearance, they have concluded that there was insufficient evidence and the case against Joe has been formally discontinued."
George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
