Ben Stokes: ECB’s Rob Key insists England haven’t thought of relieving captain of duties regardless of being ‘indignant’ at nightclub incident

ECB managing director Rob Key says he felt dumbstruck, indignant and annoyed after studying Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson broke crew curfew guidelines, however is refusing to make a “rash decision” on the Take a look at captain’s future.

On Wednesday, the ECB introduced that Stokes and Atkinson had “not been made available for selection” for England’s second Take a look at in opposition to New Zealand at The Kia Oval subsequent week, after the pair have been concerned in an altercation at a nightclub within the early hours of Monday morning, after the crew’s midnight curfew.

Key denied the England males’s cricket facet was a “national embarrassment”, including he was contemplating the concept of imposing an entire alcohol ban on the crew.

Talking for the primary time for the reason that incident, Key additionally mentioned:

• Stokes is “fine” however remorseful, and has not decided on persevering with as captain
• Atkinson, who has apologised to move coach Brendon McCullum, says he didn’t know there was a curfew
• Subsequent steps together with a complete alcohol ban are being thought of
• England gamers weren’t aggressive within the incident
• Taking the captaincy was an excessive amount of of a burden for Harry Brook

Experiences emerged in current days that Stokes was contemplating his future as captain, with Key insisting {that a} choice to alleviate the 35-year-old had “not crossed his mind” with the incident nonetheless “very raw”.

Stokes and Atkinson have been on the Rex Rooms in West London when a Saracens rugby participant threw a punch at Atkinson, however hit a safety guard who was supervising the gamers.

“We have got to let the process play through,” Key mentioned, when requested by Sky Sports activities if Stokes has a future as captain. “That is why it’s in place, as a result of I do not assume any of us, whether or not that is Ben, Gus, myself, the ECB, nobody needs to make a rash choice.

“I’ve gone by way of a spread of feelings, I believe, from being completely dumbstruck to anger, which I am nonetheless undecided I am over all of that stuff on the minute, and Ben, I believe, has been by way of the identical vary of feelings.

“We’re speaking most days, so at the moment we’re just going to let that process play out. Hopefully, that will be pretty straightforward, and then we can see where we go from there. “

He defined Stokes was doing “fine”, however was remorseful, and that he and Atkinson have been “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.

“Everything we’ve looked at so far and everything we’ve found out, it looks like they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They weren’t aggressive or anything.

“Really, they have been on the receiving finish of what seems to be like some fairly poor behaviour from different folks. However the remainder of it I am not going to take a position on.”

Stokes has made no choice on persevering with as captain

Sky Sports activities Information understands fears over Stokes’ future as England Take a look at captain have cooled, with Key explaining the Durham all-rounder had not decided over his personal place.

“We haven’t spoken about that,” Key mentioned. “I haven’t said anything [to him], the ECB hasn’t said anything that note as well.

“At this stage, it is simply slowing all the pieces down and ensuring that we simply observe precisely what we must always achieve this a superb choice might be made, no matter it’s.”

Key acknowledged that the altercation provides off a “terrible look” after a sequence of alcohol-related incidents marred England’s winter schedule in New Zealand and Australia.

“Over the past three months, Stokes and I have put so much work into taking this team forward, and I think we started to see that out on the pitch,” Key mentioned.

“All the work that we’ve done, whether that’s thinking about the protocols, thinking about how we can make this team more professional, and clearly what happened on Sunday is a terrible look for what’s going on and Ben, I’m sure, has a huge amount of remorse for his part in that.”

Atkinson did not learn about curfew

Atkinson, who took seven wickets throughout England’s win of their opening Take a look at in opposition to New Zealand at Lord’s, has apologised to McCullum.

“He’s distraught that his actions have meant that he’s part of why he’s not selected for an Oval Test match, as well as he bowled in that game,” Key mentioned

Increasing on the main points of Sunday night, Key mentioned {that a} group of gamers had been celebrating England’s win in opposition to New Zealand within the dressing room earlier than heading out in London.

“All but two of them came back in time for the curfew,” the England managing director mentioned. “So, I feel that if those protocols weren’t in place, this could have been a lot worse. Atkinson says he didn’t know.”

“I’m angry, frustrated at having to sit here and talk through this,” Key added.

Key contemplating whole alcohol ban

The ECB and the unbiased Cricket regulator have launched an investigation into the incident.

Key and Stokes had labored exhausting to instil higher requirements of professionalism inside the facet after the incidents in New Zealand and Australia.

Harry Brook was given a £30,000 effective after he was concerned in an altercation with a bouncer exterior a Wellington nightclub the night time earlier than captaining England in a one-day worldwide. Experiences additionally emerged of extreme day ingesting and a ‘stag-do tradition’ throughout England’s mid-Ashes break to Noosa.

Curfew protocols have been established in January, and participant representatives have been all notified of the brand new association. Key defined the crew had spoken concerning the new measures collectively.

He instructed Sky Sports activities that he “didn’t want to make a decision when he was angry” however questioned whether or not the ECB had been strict sufficient on the gamers, and was considering imposing a complete ban on alcohol. “Even when they win a game of cricket, is it now a time where there’s just no alcohol at any stage?” Key mentioned.

“I need to think these things through because I don’t want to make a rash decision that hinders the team, goes from there, and creates a situation where they don’t feel they can do anything.

“The gamers now have to point out the general public that they are often trusted. And at this level, it is exhausting to say which you can.”

‘Interim captaincy too large a job for Brook’

Joe Root will step as much as take the captaincy as an alternative of vice-captain Brook for England’s upcoming second Take a look at in opposition to New Zealand.

Key mentioned there have been a number of explanation why former everlasting skipper Root was chosen over Brook, acknowledging that the Wellington incident was “certainly one factor” within the choice.

“We just thought this was too big a job at this stage for Harry to take on in the interim. We thought long and hard about the way to go,” Key mentioned.

“There’s so much that comes with the Test captaincy, even if you’re only doing it for one Test match, especially going into this one.

“Brook is the white ball captain. I believe he is been excellent at doing that job on the sphere specifically. And he is coming of age as a captain.”

Brook is known to be content material with the choice to present Root the captaincy.

Root stepped down from the function in 2022 having captained the facet for 64 Checks, essentially the most of any participant in England’s historical past.

“There’s lots of different factors of why we went for Joe Root, but ultimately, when English cricket’s in a hole, Root is the man that we asked to dig us out of it, whether that’s on the field or off the field,” Key mentioned.

“We’re incredibly lucky to have him. And when I spoke to him about whether he would consider this, he didn’t hesitate and I’m excited to see what that brings, hopefully it brings out the best of his captaincy. “

England are usually not a “national embarrassment”

Regardless of the newest incident, Key rejected solutions that the Take a look at facet have been a “national embarrassment”, pointing to their snug win at Lord’s final week for instance of the outcomes achieved since Stokes and McCullum got here into their positions.

“I don’t think they’re becoming a national embarrassment,” Key mentioned. “I think that Stokes and McCullum are one of the most successful coach and captain partnerships that we’ve had.

“I believe the best way that we went out, the best way that we have regenerated this facet since shedding Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Chris Woakes, what they have been doing out on the sphere, particularly within the final Take a look at match, and hopefully that continues, this is likely one of the extra profitable England Take a look at groups.

“That’s what I like to reflect on. And it’s not even anywhere near the end of it for that. This team, with the bowling attack that looks like it could be in play for the next few years for England, could be one of the best we’ve had.

“I believe ’embarrassment’ is much too robust a phrase for a crew that is taking part in the best way that they will do.”

England vs New Zealand – outcomes and schedule

All instances UK and Eire, all video games dwell on Sky Sports activities

• First Take a look at (Lord’s) – England gained by 115 runs
• Second Take a look at (The Kia Oval) – June 17-21 (11am)
• Third Take a look at (Trent Bridge) – June 25-29 (11am)