Stokes’ captaincy ‘could be in the past tense’ says former England cricket star

Jun 9, 2026 #Bulletin, #Sport, #The Independent

Related: Ben Stokes reacts to England’s win over New Zealand at Lord’s

England Test captain Ben Stokes‘ leadership is under scrutiny following a nightclub incident in London, where he and teammate Gus Atkinson reportedly breached a midnight curfew.
The incident, which involved a physical confrontation with a Saracens rugby player, occurred in the early hours of Monday morning after England’s victory over New Zealand.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the independent Cricket Regulator, and Saracens are all conducting investigations into the events.
As a result, the squad announcement for the upcoming second Test has been delayed, and Stokes and Atkinson are anticipated to be excluded from the team.
This event has reignited concerns within the ECB regarding the team’s professionalism and adherence to protocols, with former captain David Gower suggesting Stokes ”captaincy could be ‘in the past tense’”.