Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were dropped from the England squad for the second Test against New Zealand after they were involved in an incident at a London nightclub in the early hours of Monday. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the breach of team protocols, including the midnight curfew imposed following Ashes excesses.
The episode occurred shortly after England’s convincing 115-run victory in the first Test at Lord’s. Stokes, captain since 2022, and bowler Atkinson were at a nightclub in Chelsea, where they were also celebrating the end of the season for the Saracens rugby team. A player from the club’s academy, Totoa Auvaa, 21, was involved in the melee, which left a member of England security injured.
Drinking culture returns to haunt England
This is not the first problem of its kind. In the last nine months, at least six players from the Lord’s squad have been involved in alcohol controversies: Harry Brook in Wellington, Ben Duckett in Noosa, among others. Stokes himself admitted that the tour of Australia was his most difficult period in office.
Despite his track record, the 35-year-old captain did not comply with the newly imposed rules. He had already stopped drinking last year to recover from an injury and even invested in non-alcoholic drinks. On Sunday, after the game, he publicly declared that he would only be satisfied after “sharing a beer with the boys”.
The ECB opened an investigation and referred the case to the independent cricket regulator. The decision to remove the two players shows the seriousness of the matter for the entity.
Joe Root takes over as interim captain
With the second Test scheduled for next week at The Oval, Joe Root has been chosen to lead the team on an interim basis. The experienced batsman, who has led England in 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022, returns to the role while Stokes’ future remains uncertain.
Harry Brook, official vice-captain, did not take over as he had been involved in a similar episode in the winter. Jofra Archer returns to the squad to reinforce the attack, along with Jordan Cox.
What the case reveals about Stokes’ legacy
Stokes has a long history of off-field problems, from being sent off by the England Lions in 2013 to the incident in Bristol in 2017 that almost ended his career and affected his mental health. Many see this episode as the limit for his leadership, especially after the ECB maintained the command structure following the Ashes review.
Experts point out that the “Bazball” style under Brendon McCullum and Stokes brought results on the field, but the environment off it continues to raise questions about discipline and high performance. Australian spinner Nathan Lyon, for example, linked post-title World Test Championship drinking with a later injury.
Stokes is reportedly considering not only stepping down as captain, but possibly his international career. The board — including Rob Key, McCullum, CEO Richard Gould and chair Richard Thompson — faces a dilemma that could shake the entire structure rebuilt after the difficult winter.
The immediate departure gives England little time to prepare but also a chance to turn the page ahead of the next big series, including the Ashes.
