Ben Stokes’ England captaincy under scrutiny after nightclub ‘incident’ triggers investigation

Ben Stokes faces an uncertain future as England’s Test captain after becoming embroiled in a nightclub incident that has left him and team-mate Gus Atkinson facing an internal investigation.

The England and Wales Cricket Board announced the pair committed a “breach of team protocols” after a night out celebrating Sunday’s victory over New Zealand at Lord’s.

Both men are expected to be omitted from the second Test at the Kia Oval, which begins on June 17, a serious step for a player of Stokes’ stature and one that would cast his leadership position into doubt.

It was later reported an unnamed Saracens rugby player was involved in an altercation involving the cricketers with the Gallagher Prem club initiating its own probe.

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Sporting consequences

Simply by being out so late in a London night spot Stokes and Atkinson had contravened the team’s midnight curfew, which returned in response to criticism of the side’s professionalism and drinking habits over the winter and was still in operation following the end of the match.

There is no suggestion of any police involvement in the episode, but the sporting consequences could be significant.

Senior figures at the ECB were left aghast at the reputation the England team has attracted in recent times, with multiple reports of late night drinking sessions on their doomed Ashes campaign, including a boozy trip to the beach resort of Noosa between the second and third Tests.

The subsequent revelation white-ball captain Harry Brook had been involved in a scuffle with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington on the preceding tour of New Zealand was another damaging affair that saw him fined and issued with a final warning.

Remarkably, as Stokes’ vice-captain, Brook could now be asked to lead the side in his absence.

Seeking further information

“The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first men’s Test against New Zealand,” read the governing body’s statement.

“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.

“The Cricket Regulator has been informed and we will provide a further update when possible.”

The Saracens statement read: “We are aware of an incident involving an academy player connected to Saracens on Sunday evening.

“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.”

Retirement?

There is a possibility that the breach of team protocols could see Stokes stripped of the captaincy, a role he has held since the summer of 2022, but reports suggest the ball is currently in his court.

The 35-year-old is thought to be considering stepping down as skipper, and it is not impossible that he could even go further and retire from the international arena.

PA understands that Totoa Auvaa, a 6ft 5in and 19stones 8lbs former Samoa A and Samoa Under-20 captain, is the Saracens player implicated.

Auvaa, 21, is a back-five forward who joined Saracens’ senior academy ahead of the current season and is viewed as a promising prospect.

A security guard who was with the England pair, but who is understood not to be a member of ECB staff, was reportedly injured in the incident.

The damaging episode began with a contingent of England cricketers meeting Saracens squad members at the White Horse pub in Fulham on Sunday evening, with the latter group marking the end of their season.

According to a bartender, who asked not to be named, a group of around 20 players, including Stokes and England rugby internationals Maro Itoje and Ben Earl, were served in the establishment between 9pm and 11pm.

The Rugby Football Union and Saracens have declined to comment, and there is no suggestion that either Itoje or Earl were involved in what took place later on.

Embarrassment

The employee said Stokes ordered a couple of rum and Cokes and the group was engaging in “huge rounds”.

He described the atmosphere between the group as “super nice”, adding: “I assumed they all knew each other in the way that they were talking.”

He said the group left when the White Horse closed at 11pm and some looked like they were going to “kick on”.

PA understands earlier in the evening a lot of the Saracens rugby players were seen drinking at the Crabtree pub in Fulham.

They were not seen with any of the England cricketers at that stage, a local witness has said.

In 2017, Stokes was involved in an incident outside a Bristol nightclub that resulted in him being charged with affray.

He subsequently missed the Ashes tour of 2017-18 before he was cleared of the charge the following summer.

The reports will come as a further embarrassment to the ECB, which has been at pains to show lessons have been learned following previous excesses.

Head coach Brendon McCullum has defended his players over previous criticism, but one of his most often repeated mantras since taking over in 2022 seems even more apt than ever.

Mistakes

Speaking in Sri Lanka earlier this year, shortly after the news of Brook’s indiscretion came to light, McCullum said: “If you go back to the day I walked into the job, the first thing I said to these boys is, ‘Don’t do anything that lands you on the front page of the paper and nothing good happens after midnight’.”

Just a couple of weeks ago, McCullum said of his charges in an ECB in-house interview: “They’re young guys who are growing up on the world stage under the brightest lights and sometimes they’re going to make mistakes.

“We’re just going to make sure that we’re looking after these guys whilst also occasionally using a firm grip to ensure that we are not making those same mistakes again.”

Stokes himself called for greater empathy when opener Ben Duckett was caught on camera looking worse for wear after a drinking session in Noosa.

“I’ve had some pretty good times over my career. I’ve also had some pretty tough times,” he said.

“I have first-hand experience of how this can affect people.

“It’s never a nice place to be in when not only the media world, but also the social media world, is just piling on top of you.”

READ MORE: England captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson face ECB investigation over nightclub ‘incident’