Black Caps v England: Ben Stokes fighting to keep captaincy after ‘nightclub incident’ with rugby player

Tuesday, 9 June 2026

Ben Stokes’ future as England cricket captain is in doubt after he was allegedly involved in a nightclub incident with a Saracens academy rugby player having won a Test match at Lord's hours earlier.

A statement by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday (NZT) said that Stokes and Gus Atkinson, who was with the Test captain at the venue where some of the Saracens squad were in attendance, had been reported to the Cricket Regulator, an independent body.

Both players were in breach of the midnight curfew that was imposed on England players before the T20 World Cup in February after accusations during the tour of Australia of a drinking culture within the team.

“The ECB is investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first men's Test against New Zealand,” it read.

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

“We are 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.”

Saracens issued a statement confirming one their academy players was involved in an incident in the early hours of Monday (local time).

“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.”

The ECB has not issued any details about the incident. However, the statement seemed to hint that Stokes, the Test captain who revealed in May last year that he had given up alcohol in January 2025, and Atkinson, would miss the second Test if the ECB's investigation finds wrongdoing or further investigation is needed.

The next match begins at The Oval in London on Wednesday next week, after England won by 115 runs at Lord’s. As vice-captain, Harry Brook would lead England if Stokes is absent.

Brendon McCullum, the head coach who repeatedly had to deny that there was a squad drinking culture during the shambolic Ashes tour, reiterated that view last week but said that he had warned his players about being out late.

“The first thing I said to these boys is ‘don't do anything that lands you on the front page of a newspaper’ and ‘nothing good happens after midnight’,” McCullum said. “I'm not against making sure these boys have a good time in a controlled manner but it's about looking after them to ensure they don't make mistakes.”

In 2017, Stokes was involved in a late-night street fight outside a Bristol nightclub. He was cleared of an affray charge at Bristol Crown Court in 2018, but was fined and given a backdated suspension for bringing the game into disrepute by the ECB's discipline commission.

There is likely to be significant anger within the management over this latest incident. The England team were heavily criticised for their culture and behaviour in Australia.

Brook, the white-ball captain, was fined £30,000 (NZ$69,000) by the ECB and received a caution after he was punched by a nightclub bouncer the night before an ODI in Wellington on November 1.

Jacob Bethell also received a caution as he had also been out drinking the night before that match with Brook. England seamer Josh Tongue had been with the pair but was not punished because he was not playing in the ODI.

During the Ashes, some England players were also accused of excessive drinking during a break in Noosa, with England at that stage 2-0 down in the series. Rob Key, the England director of cricket, and McCullum had to face heavy questioning about whether there was an alcohol culture within the team.

The ECB has the power to sanction, fine or suspend their players after their own investigation but the Cricket Regulator has also been passed details of this latest incident.

The regulator can investigate if there have been any breaches of the players' code of conduct, which includes “bringing the game into disrepute”. It, too, has the power to reprimand, fine or suspend players.

– The Times, London