The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said it is investigating a possible breach of team protocols after an “incident” at a nightclub at which captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present.
The undisclosed incident occurred in the early hours of Monday morning after England had wrapped up a 115-run victory in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s. Rugby club Saracens have also said that they are aware of an incident involving one of their academy players.
“The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men’s Test against New Zealand,” a statement from the ECB said.
“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 investigation comes in the wake of an Ashes series during which England’s team culture was criticised, and is likely to bring fresh scrutiny on the set-up with Stokes’s involvement in the second Test, and perhaps beyond, in doubt.
It emerged at the end of the Ashes that white-ball captain Harry Brook was involved in an altercation with a bouncer in New Zealand the night before leading the side in a one-day international (ODI) in November.
Brook – who is also vice-captain of the Test team and would be in line to step in were Stokes to miss out – later admitted to lying to protect others, having initially claimed to have been alone on the night in question. He was fined over the incident.
The ECB were also forced to investigate reports of players drinking excessively during a break from the Ashes in the beach town of Noosa. England brought in a midnight curfew on players and staff after the tour of Australia ahead of the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka and T20 World Cup.
Saracens’ season came to an end on Saturday after defeat to Exeter Chiefs meant they missed out on the Gallagher Prem play-offs.
The club said in a statement: “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.”
Ahead of the start of the New Zealand series, head coach Brendon McCullum had promised a “firm grip” on his squad after what he described as “mistakes”.
“You’re bringing up young men, they’re in an environment where there is a lot of pressure, there’s lots of distractions,” McCullum said. “They’re young guys who are growing up on the world stage under the brightest lights and sometimes they’re going to make mistakes.
“Ultimately your job as the leader of the organisation is to try to make sure that we aren’t making those mistakes because they’re not helpful. In an ideal world they would never happen. It’s not always an ideal world. 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.”
Seam bowler Atkinson helped seal victory with a second innings five-for at Lord’s as England went 1-0 ahead in the series with victory in a rain-affected Test.
The second Test is due to begin at the Oval on Wednesday 17 June, with a squad due to be named this week. The ECB’s statement would appear to suggest that the involvement of Stokes and Atkinson is in serious doubt, while the England captain may also consider his position.
Stokes was previously acquitted having been charged with affray following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in 2017. The all-rounder missed the 2017-18 Ashes, and was later fined for bringing the game into disrepute by the ECB.
