New Delhi: Ben Stokes’ future as England Test captain is in serious doubt after he was involved in a nightclub incident in Chelsea after 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 the two players allegedly broke the team’s midnight curfew.According to reports, the pair got into a row involving Saracens academy rugby players. The rugby player allegedly threw punches at Atkinson but instead hit an ECB security guard, who later required stitches. Stokes and Atkinson were not injured, and ECB sources insist the England players were “not aggressors”. Reports also claim that the police were not called to the scene.
The ECB launched an investigation
The timing is particularly damaging as England recently introduced stricter rules on player behaviour, including a midnight curfew, after concerns were raised during the Ashes. While many players celebrated in London after the Lord’s Test, only Stokes and Atkinson are believed to have stayed out beyond the allotted time.With an ongoing investigation and the matter being 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 Brooke likely to lead the side.Saracens confirmed they were investigating the involvement of one of their academy players, saying: “We are aware of an incident involving an academy player linked to Saracens on Sunday evening.”A senior rugby source defended Stokes, saying: “The Saracens player did it and has a representative. I wouldn’t want the England cricket captain to lose his job over it.”
The spotlight returns to Stokes’ past.
The incident has drawn attention to Stokes’ disciplinary history, including a 2017 Bristol brawl that saw him stripped of England’s vice-captaincy. Recently, he appeared to have moved on from these issues, having largely given up drinking and focusing on his fitness and recovery.After England’s win at Lord’s, Stokes said: “I was obviously very, very happy that we won this week… I probably won’t be really happy and smile until I go over there and share a proper beer with the lads.”The conflict is particularly strange because coach Brendan McCullum recently reminded the players, “The first thing I told these guys was ‘don’t do anything that gets you on the front page’ and ‘nothing good happens after midnight.’The ECB has delayed naming its squad for the next Test while it completes its investigation, leaving Stokes’ captaincy and Atkinson’s place in the squad uncertain.
