Ben Stokes’ England captaincy in doubt as nightclub ‘incident’ with rugby player comes to light

Both Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson are facing a probe by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaking team rules in the early hours of Monday morning following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

The Telegraph broke the story and reported: “Harry Brook is almost certain to be England captain for the second Test at the Oval next week with Stokes unlikely to appear and expected be given time away from the group.” The Daily Mail reported that there was an “altercation” with the rugby player which “was not instigated by the two cricketers”.

The Telegraph then added new details to their report, stating: “Stokes and Atkinson breached the team’s new midnight curfew and were embroiled in a melee with a Saracens academy player”.

“The rugby player is understood to have thrown a punch at Atkinson, but connected with an ECB security guard supervising the players,” the report continued.

“The security guard was left requiring stitches, but Stokes and Atkinson were not injured. It is unclear if further punches were thrown.

“ECB sources are adamant the cricketers were “not the aggressors”. Police were not involved in the incident, which took place at a nightclub in Chelsea.”

A senior source in English rugby told The Telegraph: “The Saracens player caused this and has a rep. I would not want the England cricket captain to lose his job over this.”

It is the latest controversy concerning the England team following a tour of Australia where the side faced allegations of a drinking culture during a 4-1 Ashes series loss concluded in January.

An elevation to the captaincy for white-ball skipper Brook would represent a remarkable reversal, after he was fined and censured for late-night drinking and clashing with a nightclub bouncer before captaining England in a one-day international in Wellington in October.

“The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men’s Test against New Zealand,” the governing body said in a statement issued Monday.

“Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning when an incident took place.

“We are currently seeking further information, and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course.”

Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported players from Saracens, who compete in English rugby union’s top-flight Prem league, were also present at the venue for the London club’s end-of-season party.

Saracens subsequently issued a statement confirming one their academy players was involved in an incident in the early hours of Monday.

“We are aware of an incident involving an Academy player connected to Saracens,” it said.

“The club is currently establishing the full facts and is in contact with the relevant authorities and individuals involved. Once this process is complete, the matter will be reviewed and addressed appropriately.

“We will make no further comment at this time.”

Stokes led England as they thrashed New Zealand by 115 runs before lunch on Sunday’s fourth day at Lord’s in their first Test match since their humiliating Ashes defeat, paceman Atkinson helping finish things off with a second-innings haul of 5-30.

Brook’s clash in Wellington led England to impose a midnight curfew on all players and staff, which is understood to still be in place.

During the Australia tour, the conduct of the England squad came under particular scrutiny following a mid-series break in the coastal town of Noosa, with a video of Ben Duckett posted on social media that appeared to show the opening batsman in state of intoxication.

England director of cricket Rob Key investigated the squad’s time in Noosa, with the former Test batsman denying the team had a drinking culture.

Following the conclusion of the Ashes, details of the incident involving Brook in October were revealed.

Brook claimed to have been alone at the nightclub in Wellington, only for it to emerge he was alongside England teammates Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue.

The midnight curfew was first imposed for England’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in January and the T20 World Cup that followed, both when Brook was captain.

Stokes turned 35 during the first Test and, speaking after England went 1-0 up in a three-match series, he said: “I’m not going to lie, I’m very, very happy that we’ve won this week. I knew how big this game was in terms of the result and how it was going to be perceived externally if it didn’t go well.

“I won’t be really happy until I get to share a beer with the boys.” In 2017, Stokes was involved in an incident outside a nightclub in Bristol, southwest England, that led to him being charged with affray.

He subsequently missed the Ashes tour of 2017/18 before he was found not guilty of the charge following a trial at Bristol Crown Court in August 2018.

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