Last Updated on 4 days ago by Charbel Coorey
Ben Stokes may have captained England for the last time in Test cricket. The all-rounder, along with Gus Atkinson, was involved in an incident with a Saracens rigby player at a Chelsea nightclub following England’s 115-run win over New Zealand at Lord’s.
A report in The Telegraph states Stokes and Atkinson “were not the aggressors”, quoting a senior England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) official. The rugby player reportedly attempted to punch Atkinson, but instead connected with an ECB security guard who then required stitches. Also, a senior England rugby source said, “the Saracens player caused this and has a rep. I would not want the England cricket captain to lose his job over this.”
However, that may not be enough for Stokes to keep his captaincy. After a string of poor performances in New Zealand and Australia last winter where England’s off-field behaviour was in the spotlight, the team management implemented a new code of conduct, including a midnight curfew. Stokes and Atkinson breached this curfew, with the incident occurring in the early hours of Monday morning.
“Ben Stokes can’t keep the Test captaincy” – English media reacts to latest off-field issue
Before the ECB make an official call, Ben Stokes himself may give up the Test captaincy according to those with inside knowledge. Soon before the first Test against New Zealand, coach Brendon McCullum, whom many believe was fortunate to keep his own position, spoke of the need for a change in culture.
“The first thing I said to these boys is ‘don’t do anything that lands you on the front page of a newspaper’ and ‘nothing good happens after midnight,’” McCullum said. “I’m not against making sure these boys have a good time in a controlled manner but it’s about looking after them to ensure they don’t make mistakes.”
The Telegraph’s Nick Hoult wrote that Stokes’ position surely becomes untenable.
“At the moment it is hard to see Stokes surviving this because how can he retain authority in front of the players when he has broken the rules within weeks of them being imposed?” wrote Hoult. “An ECB security guard has ended up with stitches because Stokes and another player decided to break the team’s midnight curfew. It places another question mark over the grip Brendon McCullum and Rob Key have over the set-up a year out from another Australia series.”
Stokes and Atkinson are unlikely to feature in the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval, starting Wednesday 17th June. “We are currently seeking further information, and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course,” wrote the ECB in a statement.
