Tag: Ben Stokes

Michael Vaughan has backed Ben Stokes to retain the England captaincy despite being investigated for breaking the team’s curfew.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced they were looking into Stokes’ involvement in a nightclub incident on Monday morning following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

England team-mate Gus Atkinson and Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa were also involved. Media reports on Tuesday suggested Stokes may resign as Test skipper.

The second Test against New Zealand at the Oval gets underway in a week’s time.

But former England captain Vaughan said Stokes had sufficient “credit in the bank” to avoid being sacked.

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“Yes, Ben Stokes broke a curfew,” Vaughan wrote in the Daily Telegraph. “Yes, he made a mistake. But is that a sacking offence as England’s Test captain? I do not think som” he added.

“Stokes has a lot of credit in the bank for all he has done for England as captain and all-rounder. There is no way that those making the big decisions at the England and Wales Cricket Board have the same credit in the bank.”

“I do not see how you can tell Stokes he is not captain anymore just for going over the curfew by a couple of hours after a win.”

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“A short suspension would be fine, but this is not a big enough incident over which to lose the captaincy,” Vaughan concluded.

It is the latest controversy concerning the England team after the tour of Australia where the side faced allegations of a drinking culture during a 4-1 Ashes series loss.

Earlier, England announced the squad for the second New Zealand Test, leaving out Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, with Joe Root named as interim captain.

England Squad for Second Test

Joe Root (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.

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England have announced the squad for the second Test against New Zealand, with Joe Root named as interim captain after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were left out due to an ongoing investigation.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that the duo was unavailable for selection as the investigation into the nightclub incident continues.

“The England & Wales Cricket Board can confirm that, given the ongoing investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have not been made available for selection for the Rothesay 2nd Test against New Zealand, which starts at the Kia Oval on Wednesday 17 June,” the board said in a statement.

Stokes and Atkinson have been replaced by Jofra Archer and Jordan Cox in the 15-man squad. Meanwhile, Root has been picked as the stand-in captain ahead of the vice-captain, Harry Brook.

Previously, Root has led the side in 64 matches between 2017 and 2022. The ace batter has opted not to take the role after handing over the reins to Stokes.

However, Brook himself was fined and cautioned for the New Zealand nightclub incident last year. Root has stepped in as captain as the most senior member of the English side.

For the unversed, Stokes and team-mate Gus Atkinson are facing a probe by the ECB for breaking team rules in the early hours of Monday morning following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

It is the latest controversy involving the England team following a tour of Australia during which the side faced allegations of a drinking culture amid a 4-1 Ashes series defeat that concluded in January.

The second Test between England and New Zealand will begin on 17 June at the Kia Oval.

England Squad for Second Test

Joe Root (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.

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All-rounder Ben Stokes is likely to step down as England captain and bring his glittering international career to an end. 

Stokes and team-mate Gus Atkinson are facing a probe by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaking team rules in the early hours of Monday morning following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

It is the latest controversy involving the England team following a tour of Australia during which the side faced allegations of a drinking culture amid a 4-1 Ashes series defeat that concluded in January.

According to a report in TalkSport, Stokes is likely to resign, and there is even a possibility of his retirement from international cricket.

The report quoted Senior correspondent at ‘The Cricketer’, George Dobell, as saying: “I fear from everything I hear that Stokes is going to act first. And, regretfully, I hear that he is going to step down and possibly even retire.

England have also delayed announcing their squad for the second Test, with two changes likely.

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Another ESPNcricinfo report claims that the ECB gave Stokes the option to resign and continue playing international cricket. However, if the 35-year-old does not take that option, the board could sack him.

With growing calls for a change in dressing-room culture, it is inevitable that the all-rounder will retain his position.

Ben Stokes’ position as England cricket captain was in jeopardy on Monday after officials announced he was being investigated for a nightclub incident reportedly involving a Saracens rugby player.

Stokes and team-mate Gus Atkinson are facing a probe by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaking team rules in the early hours of Monday morning following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

It is the latest controversy concerning the England team following a tour of Australia, where the side faced allegations of a drinking culture during a 4-1 Ashes series loss concluded in January.

If Stokes is stripped of the captaincy, vice-captain Harry Brook, already the skipper of England’s white-ball teams, could lead the hosts in next week’s second Test across London at the Oval.

This would represent a remarkable reversal for Brook, who was fined and censured for late-night drinking and clashing with a nightclub bouncer before captaining England in a one-day international in Wellington in October.

“The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men’s Test against New Zealand,” the governing body said in a statement issued Monday.

“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.”

Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported players from Saracens, who compete in English rugby union’s top-flight Prem, were also present for the London club’s end-of-season party.

Saracens subsequently issued a statement confirming an academy player had been involved in an incident in the early hours of Monday.

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“We are aware of an incident involving an academy player connected to Saracens,” it said.

“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.”

Stokes led England as they thrashed New Zealand by 115 runs on Sunday with more than a day to spare in their first Test match since their Ashes humiliation, Surrey paceman Atkinson helping finish things off with a second-innings haul of 5-30.

Brook’s clash in Wellington led England to impose a midnight curfew on all players and staff, which is understood to still be in place.

During the Australia tour, the England squad’s conduct during a mid-series break in the coastal town of Noosa came under particular scrutiny, with a video of opening batsman Ben Duckett in an apparent state of intoxication posted on social media.

England director of cricket Rob Key, who investigated the squad’s behaviour in Noosa, denied the team had a drinking culture, as did head coach Brendon McCullum.

Following the conclusion of the Ashes, details of the incident involving Brook in October were revealed. Brook claimed to have been alone at the nightclub in Wellington, only for it to emerge he was alongside team-mates Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue.

The midnight curfew was first imposed for England’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in January and the T20 World Cup that followed, both when Brook was captain.

In 2017, Ben Stokes was involved in an incident outside a nightclub in Bristol, southwest England, that led to him being charged with affray.

He subsequently missed the Ashes tour of 2017/18 before he was found not guilty of the charge following a trial at Bristol Crown Court in August 2018.

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England captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson are under investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaching the code of conduct after the first Test against New Zealand.

The Three Lions outplayed New Zealand by 115 runs in the series opener on a topsy-turvy Lord’s surface that drew criticism from former cricketers.

ECB has confirmed an incident in a press release statement regarding Stokes and Atkinson.

“The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men’s Test against New Zealand,” the board said.

“Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning when an incident took place,” it added.

England’s governing body also hinted at a possible change in the second Test lineup, with further updates to be provided in due course.

“We are currently seeking further information, and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course.

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“The Cricket Regulator has been informed and we will provide a further update when possible,” it concluded.

For those unaware, this was the first Test match since the Ashes debacle for England. The tour down under was also marked by scrutiny of England’s off-field behavior, resulting in a fine on white-ball captain Harry Brook for misconduct in New Zealand.

Brook was punched ahead of the Ashes by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington before the ODI against New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Stokes was previously involved in a late-night incident outside a nightclub in Bristol following an ODI match against the West Indies in 2017. A fight broke out involving Stokes and another man, leaving the former with a hand injury.

He was later arrested and charged, but the prosecution service dropped the charges, allowing him to continue his international career.

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England captain Ben Stokes said the “landscape of cricket” has changed as he defended Jofra Archer’s absence from the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s because of the fast bowler’s IPL commitments.

Archer was a member of the Rajasthan Royals team beaten by Gujarat Titans in the IPL qualifier last Friday and is not with England for the first Test against the New Zealand at Lord’s, starting Thursday.

The 31-year-old is now in Barbados, the country of his birth, and will not return to England until after the first Test. The second Test at the Oval begins on June 17, and Archer could now miss that match as well.

Archer, however, still has an England central contract.

Former England captain Michael Atherton has labelled the situation incredibly frustrating, with Simon Doull, a former New Zealand paceman, branding the injury-prone express quick’s absence from the series opener “absolutely ludicrous”.

But Stokes, speaking to reporters at Lord’s on Wednesday, said there were two sides to the story.

“I totally understand people’s frustrations around it, but there is another side to it. A lot of it has to do with the landscape of cricket and where it is at the moment.”

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“A lot of points people are making around Jof and that situation, are to do with the landscape when they were playing. But it’s completely different now. There’s opportunities for cricketers now that there was not 10, 15, 20 years ago,” he said.

“Yes, in an ideal situation, it would be unbelievably great to have everyone who you want available at every single opportunity. That is not the way of cricket at the moment. There is so much more out there for players.”

Stokes said that no one should question Archer’s desire to play for his country.

“There is a situation where it could get messy and players like Jofra might not play for England again if you handle it in a different way, and that is not good for anyone,” he said.

“Jofra has shown that he’s committed and loves playing for England. Just because he’s not available for this first Test match does not change that,” he concluded.

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England Test captain Ben Stokes facial transformation has left the cricketing fraternity stunned during a video appearance ahead of a packed cricketing summer.

The transformation was captured in a video posted on England Cricket’s social media handles, featuring numerous Three Lions cricketers showcasing the new kits across all three formats.

Following the video, Stokes’ transformation drew attention online.

 

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For those unaware, all-rounder Stokes suffered a broken cheekbone after being hit by the ball during a net session while he was coaching academy players at his county side, Durham, in February.

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After recovering from a serious injury, the 34-year-old revealed that he could not have been alive.

“I copped one straight in the face,” the 34-year-old told the England and Wales Cricket Board.

“Pretty nasty but, funnily, probably the best result of a bad situation, to be honest. Just a couple of inches one way or the other, I might not be here doing this interview if I hadn’t turned my head around,” he added.

“All things considered, although I had pretty major facial surgery to sort it out, it was a bit of a mess under here (cheekbone), I’ve got out quite lucky. So pretty thankful for that.”

England are set to play New Zealand in a three-match Test series, starting from June 4 at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s.

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England Test captain Ben Stokes has said he feels “quite lucky” to be alive after being hit in the face by a cricket ball.

All-rounder Stokes suffered a broken cheekbone after being hit by the ball during a net session while he was coaching academy players at his county side Durham in February.

Stokes underwent surgery and is set to play in two first-class County Championship games next month, but he revealed the incident could have been so much worse.

“I copped one straight in the face,” the 34-year-old told the England and Wales Cricket Board.

“Pretty nasty but, funnily, probably the best result of a bad situation, to be honest. Just a couple of inches one way or the other, I might not be here doing this interview, if I didn’t turn my head round.

“All things considered, although I had pretty major facial surgery to sort it out, it was a bit of a mess under here (cheekbone), I’ve got out quite lucky. So pretty thankful for that.”

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He added: “Obviously it set everything back about a month, five weeks, with getting back to where I wanted to be to play at the start of the season for Durham, but just had to sort of quickly go back to the drawing board and put a plan together to get me ready to play a couple of games for Durham before the Test summer starts.

“At the back end of all that now but it was a pretty scary situation. Thankfully still here and everything’s all right.”

Stokes is expected to be fit to lead England in the first Test of their home season against New Zealand at Lord’s starting on June 4 as they look to recover from their woeful 4-1 Ashes humiliation in Australia.

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England captain Ben Stokes has dismissed suggestions of a collapse in his relationship with coach Brendon McCullum, although he says the way they work together will “look a little bit different” this season.

Stokes and McCullum, a former New Zealand captain, have been in a close alliance since joining forces in 2022. But there appeared to be a difference in their respective approaches as England slumped to a woeful 4-1 series Ashes loss in Australia.

As all-rounder Stokes opted for a more grinding, disciplined approach, as the series wore on, while McCullum continued to stand by his mantra of ultra-aggressive ‘Bazball’ cricket.

Both men backed each other in public at the end of the series, and Stokes reiterated that position following media reports that a post-Ashes review had revealed tensions between the duo.

“Saying we weren’t aligned, I think, is a massive overstatement,” Stokes said in an in-house interview with the England and Wales Cricket Board published Tuesday.

“When you’re in a position of leadership along with someone else, if anyone thinks that you’re always going to agree on everything, then it’s just impossible.”

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England are back in Test action in June, against New Zealand, before taking on Pakistan at home as well. Stokes said there would be a change in how he worked with McCullum as the team look to return to winning ways ahead of the 2027 Ashes in England.

“I’m very confident in mine and Brendon’s ability to be able to work together, because we’ve done it for such a long period of time now, but work together in a slightly different way,” he said.

“The main point of me and Brendon is our alignment towards winning things and making this team as good as they can be. That’s always been the thing since we started. It might just look a little bit different now to how that operates — on the back of four years working together.

“Hopefully we’ll still be together at the end of 2027, winning what we want to win.”

Ben Stokes is currently recovering from a facial injury after being struck by a stray ball in pre-season training, but is expected to lead England in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 4.

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England Test captain Ben Stokes will be sidelined for the first month of the county season as he recovers from a cheekbone injury sustained in a training accident.

Stokes suffered a broken cheekbone after being hit by the ball during a net session with his Durham team-mates last month.

The 34-year-old said that his subsequent surgery was a success, although his photo on Instagram, showing a badly swollen and bruised face, revealed the extent of the horrific injury.

The prolonged rehabilitation process means that Stokes has had to delay his return to action.

The all-rounder, who has not played since the final game of England’s Ashes series thrashing in Australia in January, was originally hoping to make his comeback against Kent in Durham’s first round of County Championship fixtures next week.

But he now looks likely to sit out the first four matches of the domestic campaign before preparing for the New Zealand Test series by facing Worcestershire and Kent in May.

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“He was going to play the first game; he’s been training so hard to be ready. But he won’t play in that, obviously. We have to wait for the specialists to clear him,” Durham coach Ryan Campbell said.

“Unfortunately, it’s made a change, the accidental bump. He is pencilled in for Worcester and Kent, and I think it will just be those two, to be honest.

“He has got to recover from the facial injuries and then have to build up again. It is a long, old summer, and he will have that mapped out but is keen and ready to go.”

Campbell believes Ben Stokes was lucky to avoid further damage given the nature of the grisly injury.

“It was so, so much worse than you’d think. The ball was hit so hard, we are just lucky he got away with it,” he said. “The initial whack was bad. If it hits him in the eye, it could have been different. That could have been horrific.”

“His cheekbone worked the way it is supposed to: it caved in and looked after the rest of him. It is a bit scary, but a reminder to all of us to keep our eye on the ball.”

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