Ben Stokes’ place as England cricket captain was in jeopardy Monday after officers introduced he was being investigated for a nightclub incident reportedly involving a Saracens rugby participant.
Each Stokes and team-mate Gus Atkinson are going through a probe by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaking group guidelines within the early hours of Monday morning following England’s win within the first Check in opposition to New Zealand at Lord’s.
It’s the newest controversy regarding the England group following a tour of Australia the place the facet confronted allegations of a ingesting tradition throughout a 4-1 Ashes collection loss concluded in January.
If Stokes is stripped of the captaincy, white-ball skipper Harry Brook may lead England for subsequent week’s second Check throughout London on the Oval.
This is able to characterize a outstanding reversal for Brook, who was fined and censured for late-night ingesting and clashing with a nightclub bouncer earlier than captaining England in a one-day worldwide in Wellington in October.
“The ECB is presently investigating a breach of group protocols following the conclusion of the primary Males’s Check in opposition to New Zealand,” the governing physique stated in a press release issued Monday.
“Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson had been current at a nightclub within the early hours of Monday morning when an incident passed off.
“We’re presently in search of additional data, and an announcement relating to the squad for the second Check might be made sooner or later.”
Britain’s Day by day Telegraph reported gamers from Saracens, who compete in English rugby union’s top-flight Prem league, had been additionally current on the venue for the London membership’s end-of-season occasion.
Saracens subsequently issued a press release confirming that one among their academy gamers was concerned in an incident within the early hours of Monday.
“We’re conscious of an incident involving an academy participant linked to Saracens,” it stated. “The membership is presently establishing the complete information and is involved with the related authorities and people concerned. As soon as this course of is full, the matter might be reviewed and addressed appropriately.
“We’ll make no additional remark at the moment.”
Stokes led England as they thrashed New Zealand by 115 runs earlier than lunch on Sunday’s fourth day at Lord’s of their first Check match since their humiliating Ashes defeat, paceman Atkinson serving to end issues off with a second-innings haul of 5-30.
Brook’s conflict in Wellington led England to impose a midnight curfew on all gamers and workers, which is known to nonetheless be in place.
‘Beer with the boys’
Through the Australia tour, the conduct of the England squad got here beneath explicit scrutiny following a mid-series break within the coastal city of Noosa, with a video of Ben Duckett posted on social media that appeared to indicate the opening batsman in a state of intoxication.
England director of cricket Rob Key investigated the squad’s time in Noosa, with the previous Check batsman denying the group had a ingesting tradition.
Following the conclusion of the Ashes, particulars of the incident involving Brook in October had been revealed.
Brook claimed to have been alone on the nightclub in Wellington, just for it to emerge he was alongside England team-mates 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 adopted, each when Brook was captain.
Stokes turned 35 in the course of the first Check and, talking after England went 1-0 up in a three-match collection, he stated: “I am not going to lie, I am very, very joyful that we have gained this week. I knew how massive this recreation was when it comes to the outcome and the way it was going to be perceived externally if it did not go nicely.
“I will not be actually joyful till I get to share a beer with the boys.”
In 2017, Stokes was concerned in an incident outdoors a nightclub in Bristol, southwest England, that led to him being charged with affray.
He subsequently missed the Ashes tour of 2017/18 earlier than he was discovered not responsible of the cost following a trial at Bristol Crown Courtroom in August 2018.
