Ben Stokes’ future as the England Test captain has been thrown into doubt after the England and Wales Cricket Board launched an investigation into “a breach of team protocol” related to an incident involving Stokes and Gus Atkinson that took place in a London nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning.
Both players have been referred to the Cricket Regulator, an independent disciplinary body with the power to impose suspensions and unlimited fines, and a decision is expected imminently over whether they will be allowed to participate in the second Test against New Zealand that starts at the Oval on 17 June – a squad without them in it could be named as early as Tuesday. Stokes is understood to be considering his position as captain.
