The talisman of the England Test side, Ben Stokes, is staring at an unprecedented situation that has taken place in the camp. Stokes, along with pacer Gus Atkinson, are being investigated by the ECB for an 'incident' which took place at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning.
The incident, described by the ECB as "a breach of team protocols", followed England's 115-run win over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord's.
What Will Happen If The Charges Are Proved?
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the charges are serious enough that the ECB might be considering stripping Stokes off his captaincy duties.
The ECB confirmed on Monday evening that the matter has been handed over to the Cricket Regulator, and both Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson are expected to be unavailable for the second
Test at The Oval on June 17 while inquiries continue. Neither player sustained any injuries during the episode, which reportedly involved members of Saracens Rugby Club attending end-of-season celebrations. The situation is believed to have arisen following a dispute between Atkinson and an unnamed academy player.
"The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men's Test against New Zealand," the ECB's statement 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 board further explained.
Saracens later acknowledged that an academy player associated with the club was involved in an incident on Sunday evening.
Following England's tour of Australia earlier this winter, during which players' conduct off the field attracted significant criticism, the team had imposed a midnight curfew on both players and staff. The emergence of this latest episode is likely to be an awkward development for the ECB.
Who Will Lead England In 2nd Test?
Harry Brook, England's vice-captain in Tests, would typically be the frontrunner to take charge in the second Test if Ben Stokes is unavailable during the ECB's ongoing investigation.
Stokes had previously disclosed last year that he had stopped drinking alcohol, but after Sunday's match, he admitted he was eager to celebrate the hard-fought victory with his teammates. Speaking at the post-match press conference, he said he was looking forward to enjoying "a proper beer with the boys" in the dressing room.
"I understood the importance of this game, both in terms of the result and how it would be judged from the outside if things didn't go our way. Now that we've got the result, I think I'll only truly relax once I'm up there sharing a proper beer with the boys," Stokes remarked.
Stokes' career has been marred by regular disciplinary issues, the most notable one being the incident where he was involved in a late-night street-fight after an ODI in Bristol in 2017. While he managed to get off with just a fine and a back-dated suspension, there is a chance that this time fate might run out for the English skipper.
