Ben Stokes relished in the thought of being able to enjoy a beer with his team after a win against New Zealand – but that drink may now mean he’s about to miss out on the Second Test
Fresh off a dominant 115-run win against New Zealand at Lord’s, England’s post match celebrations ended in chaos.
Captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson, 28, are under investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), following an alleged nightclub incident in a swanky Chelsea venue. While Stokes, 35, told the media after the win he was heading out to “share a beer with the boys”, the night took a disastrous turn.
The incident allegedly took place in the early hours of Monday morning at the Rex Room in Chelsea, where the cricketers were celebrating their First Test win, and flouting a midnight curfew. The fallout could now cost Stokes his captaincy and see both players sidelined for the Second Test at the Oval.
Stokes and fast bowler Atkinson were allegedly involved in an altercation involving a Saracens player, who was out following an end-of-season party. The Telegraph have reported that the Saracens player threw a punch at Atkinson, only to strike an ECB security guard.
Sources within the ECB told the Telegraph that Stokes and Atkinson weren’t the aggressors and emerged unhurt from the incident. Despite this, their presence at the club in the early hours has triggered a probe by the the Cricket Regulator. The independent body oversees all disciplinary matters in English cricket and possesses the power to hand down unlimited punishments.
The Mirror has been told that Stokes was at The White Horse pub in Parson’s Green on Sunday night, before heading to The Rex Rooms. It’s believed the captain was at the pub with around 20 others, including his team-mate Joe Root, England rugby union captain Maro Itoje and his Saracens team-mate Ben Earl from around 9pm until 11pm.
A barman, who asked not to be named, told the Mirror: “I don’t know if they arrived together but all of a sudden all the cricket players and the rugby boys were all together chatting. They arrived about 9pm and left when we closed at 11pm. Stokes was drinking spirits – rum and coke. He only had a couple. It was very civil in here. I wasn’t aware they had security. It wasn’t obvious if they did. They were all chatting and were super nice.
“There were about 20 of them all together. Maybe 25. It was all guys. The rounds were just huge. They were alright. They weren’t causing any trouble. Joe Root wasn’t really involved. He was sitting down in the corner just chatting.”
It is understood that no other cricketers broke the curfew of midnight. The ECB said they are “currently seeking further information” and will shortly make a decision on the line-up for the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval on June 17.
The nightclub, created by Marc Jacques Burton, Piers Adam, and Mark Cecil, describes itself as offering a “surrealist-inspired interior with melting mirror frames and hand-carved wooden walls,” and has a strict no-phones policy. Signature cocktails include the “Enchanted Shrooms,” combining tequila with lion’s mane extract, honey, and pineapple.
Describing the night, a barman told the Mirror: “I don’t know if they arrived together but all of a sudden all the cricket players and the rugby boys were all together chatting. They arrived about 9pm and left when we closed at 11pm. Stokes was drinking spirits – rum and coke. I wasn’t aware they had security. It wasn’t obvious if they did. They were all chatting and were super nice.“There were about 20 of them all together. Maybe 25. It was all guys. The rounds were just huge. They were alright. They weren’t causing any trouble. Joe Root wasn’t really involved. He was sitting down in the corner just chatting.”
The situation adds intense pressure to a team that already has a reputation for boozy off-field mishaps, resulting in a midnight curfew being put in place. Both Stokes and Atkinson could potentially be suspended from the Second Test at the Oval, which begins on June 17, while an investigation takes place.
A statement released by the ECB said: “The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first men’s Test against New Zealand.
“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.
Meanwhile Saracens said in a statement: “We are aware of an incident involving an academy player connected to Saracens on Sunday evening.
“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.”
The midnight curfew for players was put in place mainly as a result of Harry Brook being punched by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington on the evening of a one-day international against New Zealand. He was fined £30,000 and warned about his future conduct.
Meanwhile Stokes was embroiled in an incident outside a Bristol nightclub that resulted in him being charged with affray. He subsequently missed the Ashes tour of 2017/18 before he was cleared of the charge the following summer.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
