England captain Ben Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson are set to miss next week’s second Test against New Zealand after an early-morning nightclub incident that breached the team’s midnight curfew. The England and Wales Cricket Board said on Monday evening it is investigating “a breach of team protocols” following Sunday’s victory at Lord’s. In a statement, the ECB confirmed that Stokes and Atkinson “were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning when an incident took place”. The Cricket Regulator has been informed, and an announcement on the squad for the second Test, which starts at the Kia Oval on June 17, will be made “in due course”.
It is understood that the timing contravened the team’s midnight curfew, which remained in effect despite the match’s conclusion. The i Newspaper reported that the incident occurred at the Rex Rooms on the King’s Road in west London and also involved players from Saracens rugby club, who were holding their end-of-season party. Saracens have launched their own investigation, saying in a statement: “We are aware of an incident involving an academy player connected to Saracens on Sunday evening.” The Gallagher Premiership club added it is “establishing the full facts” and will “review and address appropriately”.
“England captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson investigated for nightclub curfew breach, likely to miss second Test”
If Stokes is dropped, his vice-captain Harry Brook is poised to lead the side. Brook narrowly retained his white-ball captaincy after an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington last October. That incident was one of several alcohol-fuelled controversies that marred England’s winter Ashes tour, leading to accusations of unprofessionalism and excessive drinking. During the tour, opener Ben Duckett was filmed lost, drunk and confused in the early hours in the Queensland resort of Noosa. Head coach Brendon McCullum has previously defended his players but conceded in February that they “had to be responsible for their own behaviour”.
The ECB has been at pains to show that lessons have been learned from the winter. Stokes, England captain since April 2022, now faces the possibility of losing his place in the squad and his hold on the captaincy.