ECB managing director Rob Key said he was bewildered, angry and frustrated to learn that Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson had breached team curfew rules, but refused to make a “rash decision” about the Test captains’ futures.
On Wednesday, the ECB announced that Stokes and Atkinson were “not eligible for selection” for next week’s second Test against New Zealand at Kia Oval. The pair got into an altercation at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning, after the team’s midnight curfew.
Key denied the England men’s cricket team had caused a “national embarrassment” and added that he was considering the idea of imposing a complete alcohol ban on the team.
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England managing director Rob Key explains why giving Joe Root the Test captaincy over vice-captain Harry Brook was the ‘right thing to do’.
Key said this for the first time since the incident.
- Stokes is “fine” but regretful and has not decided whether to continue as captain.
- Atkinson, who apologized to coach Brandon McCollum, said he did not know there was a curfew.
- Next steps are being considered, including a total alcohol ban.
- England players were not aggressive in this incident.
- Being captain was too much pressure for Harry Brook
Reports have emerged in recent days that Stokes is considering his future as captain, with Key insisting the decision to relieve the 35-year-old had “never crossed his mind” and that the incident was still “very raw”.
Stokes and Atkinson were at the Rex Rooms in West London when the Saracens rugby player threw a punch at Atkinson, hitting a security guard who was supervising the players.
“We need to let the process move forward,” Key requested. sky sports If Stokes has a future as captain. “That’s why this has been put in place – because no one – Ben, Gus, myself, the ECB – will want to make hasty decisions.
“I think I went through a range of emotions, from completely stupid to angry. I’m not sure I was over it all yet at that moment. I think Ben went through the same emotions.
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Stokes and Gus Atkinson were left out of the England squad for the second Test against New Zealand after breaching team protocols.
“We talk most days, so let’s just go through that process for now. Hopefully, it’ll be pretty straightforward and we’ll see where we go from there.”
He said Stokes was doing “fine” but was remorseful and explained that he and Atkinson were “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
“Everything we’ve looked at so far and everything we’ve found out, it looks like they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They weren’t aggressive or anything.
“Actually, they were getting what seemed like pretty bad behavior from other people, but I won’t speculate on the rest.”
Stokes has not decided whether he will continue as captain.
Sky Sports News Understanding Stokes’ fears over his future as England Test captaincy cools, Key explained that the Durham all-rounder has made no decision about his position.
“We never talked about it,” Key said. “I didn’t say anything (to him) and the ECB never mentioned anything.”
“At this stage, it’s just about slowing things down and making sure we follow exactly what we need to do so we can make the right decisions, no matter what.”
Key admitted the controversy was in “horrible shape” after a string of alcohol-related incidents marred England’s winter schedule in New Zealand and Australia.
“Over the last three months, Stokes and I have put a lot of effort into improving this team and I think you’re starting to see that on the pitch,” Key said.
“All the work we’ve done has been thinking about protocols, thinking about how we can make this team more professional, and obviously what happened on Sunday was a terrible look at what’s happening and I’m sure Ben has an enormous amount of regret about that.”
Atkinson didn’t know about the curfew
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Nasser Hussain has urged Ben Stokes not to make an ’emotional decision’ following his exclusion from the England squad.
Atkinson, who took seven wickets during England’s win in the opening Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, apologized to McCullum.
“He was shocked that not only was his behavior one of the reasons he was not selected for the Oval Test match, but he bowled in that game,” Key said.
Detailing the details of Sunday evening, Key said a group of players were celebrating England’s win over New Zealand in the dressing room before heading to London.
“All but two of them returned in time for curfew,” the UK managing director said. “So I think things could have been a lot worse had these protocols not been in place, which Atkinson said he didn’t know about.”
“I’m angry and frustrated that I have to sit here and talk about this,” Key added.
Key Considerations for Total Alcohol Ban
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James Cole provides the latest update on whether Ben Stokes will step down as England Test captain.
The ECB and the independent cricket regulator have launched an investigation into the incident.
Key and Stokes have worked hard to instil better standards of professionalism within the team following the incidents in New Zealand and Australia.
Harry Brook has been fined £30,000 after an altercation with a bouncer outside a Wellington nightclub the night before he was due to captain England in a one-day international. There were also reports of excessive daytime drinking and ‘stag culture’ during Britain’s return to Noosa.
The curfew regulations were enacted in January and all player representatives have been notified of the new measures. Key explained that the team talked together about the new measures.
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Sky Sports senior reporter Geraint Hughes explains who the cricket regulator is and why it may investigate England captain Ben Stokes and team-mate Gus Atkinson.
“I didn’t want to make a decision when I was angry,” he told Sky Sports, but questioned whether the ECB was being strict enough with its players and considering a total ban on alcohol. “Are we now in an era where there is absolutely no alcohol at any stage, even if you win a cricket match?” Key said.
“I have to think these things through carefully because I don’t want to make hasty decisions that hinder the team and go from there and create a situation where they feel like they can’t do anything.
“The players now have to show the public that they can be trusted. It’s difficult to say that they can be trusted at this point.”
‘Interim captaincy is too big a deal for Brook’
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Harry Brook admits he is lucky to still remain England’s white-ball captain after an altercation with a nightclub bouncer the night before a match, adding that supporters have every right to be annoyed by his behavior.
Joe Root will take over as captain in the upcoming second Test against New Zealand, replacing vice-captain Brook.
Key said there were a number of reasons why former permanent skipper Root was chosen over Brook, while admitting the Wellington incident was “certainly a factor” in the decision.
“We thought this was too big a task for Harry to undertake on an interim basis at this stage. We thought long and hard about the way forward,” Key said.
“There is so much that comes with being a Test captain, even if you only do it for one Test match, especially this one.
“Brooke is the back-ball captain, and I think he does a great job of that, especially on the field, and he’s growing as a captain.”
Brook is understood to be happy with the decision to give Root the captaincy.
Root captained the side in 64 Tests, the most by any player in England’s history, before stepping down from the role in 2022.
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Nasser Hussain insists the decision on whether Ben Stokes remains England captain must ultimately be made by the player himself.
“There are a number of factors behind why we chose Joe Root, but ultimately, when English cricket is in a hole, Root is the man we call upon to pull us out, both on and off the field.” Key said.
“We’re really lucky to have him and when I spoke to him about whether he would consider this he didn’t hesitate and I’m excited to see what it brings. Hopefully, all the best for his captain.”
Britain is not a ‘national disgrace’
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Ravi Bopara believes it would be sad and extreme for Ben Stokes to retire as England Test captain on Monday morning after breaching team protocols.
Despite recent incidents, Key rejected suggestions that the Test side were a “national embarrassment” and pointed to last week’s comfortable win at Lord’s as an example of the results they have achieved since Stokes and McCullum took over.
“I don’t think they are causing a national embarrassment,” Key said. “I think Stokes and McCollum are one of the most successful coach-captain partnerships we’ve had.
“I think the way we went out, the way we regenerated this team after losing Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Chris Woakes, what they did on the field, especially in the last Test match, and hopefully that continues, this is one of the most successful England Test teams.
“That’s what I want to reflect on and it’s not over yet. With a bowling attack that looks like it could play for England for years to come, this team could be one of the best we’ve ever had.
“I think ‘embarrassing’ is too strong a word for a team playing the way they can.”
England v New Zealand – Results and Fixtures
In the UK and Ireland, all matches are always shown live on Sky Sports.
- First Test (Lord’s) – England won by 115 runs.
- Second Test (The Kia Oval) – June 17-21 (11am)
- Third Test (Trent Bridge) – June 25-29 (11am)
