England’s decision to waive Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson raises as many questions as it answers.
The duo were not named in the squad for the second Test against New Zealand after breaching England’s new midnight curfew. Because he was in a nightclub when an altercation broke out with a Saracens rugby player.
Here we explain what has happened so far and what will happen next.
Stokes and Atkinson will miss England’s second Test against New Zealand
Why were Stokes and Atkinson eliminated?
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the independent cricket regulator have launched an investigation into the incident that occurred as Stokes and Atkinson were celebrating Sunday’s win over New Zealand at Lord’s.
Stokes, Atkinson and another ECB employee were at the nightclub when an altercation involving a Saracens rugby union player broke out in the early hours of Monday.
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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 after ‘breach of team protocols’.
The unnamed Saracens player reportedly punched Atkinson and then hit a security guard who was supervising the players. It is unclear whether any further punches were thrown after that.
The cricketers’ presence at the London nightspot was in breach of a midnight curfew imposed on the team in response to criticism of their professionalism and drinking habits.
What’s next for Stokes?
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Nasser Hussain insists the decision on whether Ben Stokes remains England captain must ultimately be made by the player himself.
Stokes is currently considering his future amid speculation he could step down as captain or even retire from international cricket altogether. But fears about his future as an England player have diminished.
The decision to keep Stokes out of the second Test allows him and the ECB more time to talk and figure out what the best way forward is.
Sky Sports’ James Cole said: “Has Stokes’s position become no longer defensible? It’s no big deal to celebrate victory in isolation and drink late into the night, but it is this curfew that he has broken.”
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Nasser Hussain has urged former skipper Ben Stokes not to make ’emotional decisions’ after he was left out of the England squad following an incident at a nightclub on Monday morning.
“Should he captain England? Many cricket fans, pundits and former captains are divided on this. If the captain cannot follow the rules, how can the players follow them?
“The other argument is that he is a great captain and one of the best players in England and the punishment fits the crime. There are many different opinions on that.
“If Stokes were to be stripped of the captaincy, it would put England at risk. Not only because he is a great captain and the best man in this team, but he could turn around and say, ‘I’m tired enough.’
“He took the Ashes defeat hard and continued to pick up injuries, then a late-night drinking incident cost England one of their greatest players of all time.
“This is the dilemma the ECB is currently facing. This just buys the ECB some time to find a solution and talk to Stokes about the way forward.”
Who can replace Stokes as Test captain?
Harry Brook is currently England’s Test vice-captain but has faced disciplinary issues recently.
Harry Brook is currently the vice-captain of the England Test team. However, for the second Test against New Zealand, former skipper Joe Root was appointed as ‘interim captain’.
Brook, who is also England’s white-ball captain, retained all of his leadership positions following an ECB investigation into an incident involving a nightclub bouncer in Wellington.
Sky Sports News’ James Cole said: “Brooke was expected to take the helm.”
“But from a communications perspective, next week at The Kia Oval the captain will be up (for the interview) the day before the start of the second Test. Unfortunately, all the questions after this incident are about team culture, drinking culture and curfew.
“And just a few months ago, on the eve of an ODI and just before the start of the Ashes tour, Brook found himself in hot water for controversy in New Zealand.
“It must have been a difficult position for Brooke to be in, facing those questions.”
Joe Root returns as England’s interim captain for the second Test against New Zealand.
The ECB decided to appoint Joe Root as interim captain, a decision heralded by Atherton and Hussain.
“At this point in time, in a moment of slight crisis, who better than Joe Root, an elder statesman with an impeccable record on and off the pitch, although he stepped down as captain four years ago towards the end of a period when England were a little underperforming.
“But he wasn’t the England captain who failed in the grand scheme of things. As is usually the case, the results weren’t great. But, as you know, Root won a lot of victories as England captain.
“So when you put all this together, they may feel that a sensible elder statesman who has done this before, who has been around, knows what it is. He is the man of the moment.”
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James Cole reports that Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand.
Who could replace Stokes in the second and third Test line-up?
Stokes’ absence represents a significant loss for England, who boast considerable pedigree with both bat and ball, but provides a window of opportunity for those looking to fill the space left by their captain’s absence.
One of them is Rehan Ahmed. The right-arm wrist spinner boasts much more bat pedigree than incumbent spinner Shoaib Bashir, and given England’s preference for playing one or no spinners, he is likely to get the job.
Stokes’ direct replacement at number seven is likely to be a batsman. Essex batsman Jordan Cox has been introduced into the squad alongside Somerset’s James Rew, the latter a promising prospect for England’s future having averaged 47.80 in the County Championship Division One this season at just 22 years old.
James Rew has been called up to the squad for the first two Tests against New Zealand.
Dan Lawrence, previously capped for England, represents another option with the bat, taking 101 off 64 balls to add 218 to Surrey’s first innings 190 against Hampshire.
“I would have gone for Dan Lawrence this week, not 200,” Hussain said on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast.
“We played the County Championship game earlier in the season and although it was a flat pitch he looked like he was in a really good position, had a bit of a slow start to the season and actually had a few loose shots.
“He’s been outstanding since then, hitting a bit of off-spin and for The Oval you might not need it for that, they don’t play front-line spin.
“That’s the role Dan Lawrence plays for Surrey at The Oval and I personally would have gone with him.”
Curfew in the UK explained and why
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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.
In March ECB managing director Rob Key insisted there was “no drinking problem” within the England men’s team. Following the incident involving New Zealand’s Harry Brook and the mid-Ashes trip to Noosa.
Brook admitted he was lucky to retain his England ODI captaincy after getting into an altercation with a nightclub bouncer the night before the international match against New Zealand last winter. As a “terrible mistake.”
The 26-year-old received a final yellow card and was fined around £30,000. He is currently the vice-captain of the Test side.
Meanwhile, Ben Duckett said there was “no excuse” for his off-field mistakes during the Ashes and that he was determined to become more professional to extend his England career.
A video has emerged of Duckett appearing to be intoxicated during England’s mid-series beach break in Noosa.
England players were expected to have to adhere to a number of restrictions, including a midnight curfew, following these incidents. The curfew was still in effect on Sunday night.
What do Rob Key and Brendon McCullum do next?
Brendon McCullum has been retained as England men’s manager after reviewing the 4-1 Ashes series defeat.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain says McCollum has supported his captain Stokes throughout his tenure and will be most disappointed by the news.
“McCullum will feel incredibly disappointed,” Hussain said.
“They would have been sitting with the three at the ECB (Key, McCullum and Stokes) for months. It saved their jobs by saying we are going to reset. We will be better. We will not get into trouble. Nothing good happens after midnight.
“And my captain who laid down the rules broke them at the first opportunity.
“But it’s human nature for people to make mistakes.
“I hope that not only Brendan McCullum or Rob Key, but indeed all of us, after feeling a bit let down by the England captain, realizes what he has done for this England team in the recent past and before that as a player and as captain.”
What’s next for Atkinson?
Atkinson (right) starred with the ball in the first Test victory over New Zealand at Lord’s.
Atkinson’s future remains unclear. The seamer played a key role in England’s first Test victory at Lord’s with figures of 5-30 in the second innings.
Jofra Archer, who was not included in the squad, was called up for the second Test at Lord’s alongside the impressive Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson.
Fast bowlers Sonny Baker and Matthew Fisher were also named in England’s second Test squad. This means the route back into the starting XI may not be straightforward for Atkinson.
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 (Kia Oval) – June 17-21 (11 a.m.)
- Third Test (Trent Bridge) – June 25-29 (11 a.m.)
