Stokes’s England captaincy under serious threat after nightclub incident

NEW DELHI: Ben Stokes’s aboriginal arsenic England Test skipper is nether superior uncertainty aft helium was progressive successful a nightclub incidental successful Chelsea pursuing England’s triumph implicit New Zealand astatine Lord’s.

The ECB has launched an probe into the actions of Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson aft some players reportedly broke the team’s midnight curfew.According to reports, the brace became caught up successful an altercation involving a Saracens academy rugby player. The rugby subordinate allegedly threw a punch aimed astatine Atkinson but alternatively deed an ECB information guard, who aboriginal needed stitches.

Stokes and Atkinson were not injured, and ECB sources importune the England players were “not the aggressors”.

The reports besides assertion that constabulary were not called to the scene.

ECB begins investigation

The timing is peculiarly damaging due to the fact that England precocious introduced stricter rules connected subordinate behaviour, including a midnight curfew, aft concerns raised during the Ashes. While respective players celebrated successful London aft the Lord’s Test, lone Stokes and Atkinson are believed to person stayed retired beyond the permitted time.With the probe ongoing and the substance referred to the Cricket Regulator, Stokes is reportedly considering whether helium tin proceed arsenic captain.

He and Atkinson are expected to miss the 2nd Test astatine The Oval, with vice-captain Harry Brook apt to pb the team.Saracens confirmed they are investigating the engagement of 1 of their academy players, stating: “We are alert of an incidental involving an academy subordinate connected to Saracens connected Sunday evening.”A elder rugby root defended Stokes, saying: “The Saracens subordinate caused this and has a rep. I would not privation the England cricket skipper to suffer his occupation implicit this.”

Spotlight returns to Stokes’s past

The incidental has revived attraction connected Stokes’s disciplinary history, including the 2017 Bristol brawl that outgo him the England vice-captaincy. Recently, helium had appeared to determination beyond those issues, having mostly stopped drinking and focused connected his fittingness and recovery.After England’s triumph astatine Lord’s, Stokes had said: “I was evidently very, precise blessed that we won this week... I astir apt won’t beryllium existent blessed and smiling until I get up determination and stock a due brew with the boys.”The contention is particularly awkward due to the fact that manager Brendon McCullum had precocious reminded players, “The archetypal happening I said to these boys is ‘don’t bash thing that lands you connected the beforehand leafage of a newspaper’ and ‘nothing bully happens aft midnight.’”The ECB has delayed naming its squad for the adjacent Test portion it completes its investigation, leaving some Stokes’s captaincy and Atkinson’s spot successful the squad uncertain.