England captain Ben Stokes is set to miss the second Test against New Zealand next week after being caught up in an incident at a London nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning.
Stokes, 35 last week, was named in a statement released at 6pm on Monday by the ECB as being alongside team-mate Gus Atkinson after the midnight curfew – imposed following last winter’s Ashes tour and has remained in place – was broken.
Neither player is expected to be named in England’s squad for The Oval next week while an investigation takes place, meaning that Harry Brook – himself the subject of a late-night probe that saw him fined £30,000 and given an official reprimand – will lead the team.
‘The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first men’s Test against New Zealand,’ read a statement from the governing body.
England captain Ben Stokes is set to miss England’s second Test with New Zealand after the ECB launched an investigation into an incident at a nightclub on Monday morning
Stokes and Gus Atkinson are under investigation over a breach of England team protocols
‘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 regulator is an independent body that looks into cases of misconduct and will look into their behaviour in the aftermath of England’s 115-run victory over the Kiwis at Lord’s in which Atkinson bagged match figures of seven for 39.
Daily Mail Sport understands that the altercation that took place was not instigated by the two players, who were out drinking near England’s Kensington hotel. And they did not make physical contact with the members of the public in question.
But it is the worst possible news for a governing body desperate to clean up the image of an England team defeated 4-1 by Australia on an Ashes tour that followed Brook being punched by a Wellington night spot bouncer and featured a boozy mid-series break for the squad in Noosa likened to a stag do.
A late night video of Ben Duckett in the Queensland resort was posted on social media, with the opener appearing to be intoxicated.
The ECB’s men’s director of cricket Rob Key investigated the time in Noosa, but denied the team had a drinking culture.
But it later emerged that Brook had been investigated for being out beyond late on the night of Halloween – hours before a one-day international defeat to New Zealand.
Brook, 26, initially made a statement of apology making clear he had been alone on the night in question, only for it later to emerge he was covering up for Jacob Bethell and Brydon Carse.
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