NEW DELHI: Ben Stokes’s future as England Test captain is under serious doubt after he was involved in a nightclub incident in Chelsea following England’s win over New Zealand at Lord’s. The ECB has launched an investigation into the actions of Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson after both players reportedly broke the team’s midnight curfew.According to reports, the pair became caught up in an altercation involving a Saracens academy rugby player. The rugby player allegedly threw a punch aimed at Atkinson but instead hit an ECB security guard, who later needed stitches. Stokes and Atkinson were not injured, and ECB sources insist the England players were “not the aggressors”. The reports also claim that police were not called to the scene.
ECB begins investigation
The timing is particularly damaging because England recently introduced stricter rules on player behaviour, including a midnight curfew, after concerns raised during the Ashes. While several players celebrated in London after the Lord’s Test, only Stokes and Atkinson are believed to have stayed out beyond the permitted time.With the investigation ongoing and the matter referred to the Cricket Regulator, Stokes is reportedly considering whether he can continue as captain. He and Atkinson are expected to miss the second Test at The Oval, with vice-captain Harry Brook likely to lead the team.Saracens confirmed they are investigating the involvement of one of their academy players, stating: “We are aware of an incident involving an academy player connected to Saracens on Sunday evening.”A senior rugby source defended Stokes, saying: “The Saracens player caused this and has a rep. I would not want the England cricket captain to lose his job over this.”
Spotlight returns to Stokes’s past
The incident has revived attention on Stokes’s disciplinary history, including the 2017 Bristol brawl that cost him the England vice-captaincy. Recently, he had appeared to move beyond those issues, having largely stopped drinking and focused on his fitness and recovery.After England’s win at Lord’s, Stokes had said: “I was obviously very, very happy that we won this week… I probably won’t be real happy and smiling until I get up there and share a proper beer with the boys.”The controversy is especially awkward because coach Brendon McCullum had recently reminded players, “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.’”The ECB has delayed naming its squad for the next Test while it completes its investigation, leaving both Stokes’s captaincy and Atkinson’s place in the team uncertain.
