England cricket captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were made unavailable for the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval following an investigation into a nightclub incident where they breached a midnight curfew and a member of England’s security staff was struck [1, 2]. The incident occurred the week before June 15, shortly after England's opening Test victory at Lord's [1].
England head coach Brendon McCullum expressed concern for the 35-year-old Stokes’s mental wellbeing. "I'm worried about Ben. That's it. I'll leave it at that," McCullum said, adding he was focused on supporting Stokes rather than the disciplinary decisions. "What will be will be down the line. Those decisions are not for now. The concern is making sure Ben is fine," McCullum said [1, 2].
In Stokes’s absence, former England captain Joe Root will lead the side for the second Test [1].
Ben Stokes has returned to training and could feature for Durham in a County Championship match against Northamptonshire on Friday, June 19 [1, 2]. Director of cricket Rob Key stated he saw no reason why Stokes would not play for England again but did not endorse him continuing as captain at this stage [1].
The England and Wales Cricket Board is formally investigating the incident involving Stokes, Atkinson, and Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa at a Chelsea nightclub [2]. The episode recalls Stokes’s 2017 charge of affray, of which he was cleared, and the mental health break he took in 2021 [1].
The focus remains on Stokes’s wellbeing as England prepare for the next phase of the Test series against New Zealand.
