England Test captain Ben Stokes is set for some of the most torrid and tough days of his cricket career, as he has reportedly been given an ultimatum by the ECB to either make a decision for himself or the board will be making one for him in the aftermath of the nightclub incident on Monday morning.
To make this torrential, there are also murmurs that Stokes may be considering an abrupt end altogether to his international career. While it may sound far-fetched at the moment, the possibility of Stokes bidding goodbye to international cricket is more than nil.
On the day England beat New Zealand at Lord’s in London to kick off the home summer with a big victory, Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were involved in a nightclub melee with Saracens Rugby Club academy player Totoa Auvaa. The situation escalated to such a level that England’s team security officer was physically hurt and even needed stitches.
The England players were celebrating their win over the Kiwis, and the Saracens squad were looking for a night out after the conclusion of their domestic season.
As per The Telegraph, the two contingents were at Chelsea’s Rex Rooms. However, only Stokes and Atkinson of the England cricket team players remained in the club after the team’s midnight curfew, with the security officer with them.
It has been reported by ESPNcricinfo that Auvaa and Atkinson had a disagreement, and when the security officer interrupted, a swipe was taken at him, and he later needed medical attention. ECB sources say that England’s players were “not the aggressors”.
Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson set to miss ENG vs NZ 2nd Test, Stokes ponders over retirement – Reports
According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, Stokes and Atkinson will certainly miss the second Test against New Zealand, starting June 17. It adds that the ECB is waiting for Stokes “to make a decision” on his immediate and long-term future as the Test captain.
On Monday, the board purportedly gave Stokes the option to either resign as the Test skipper or, if he doesn’t, then the ECB could take the hard decision and sack him from the leadership post, as his actions have been said to breach the team protocols that had been set earlier after the England players’ transgressions in New Zealand and Australia in the winter.
Further, it has also been learned that Stokes could potentially retire from the international circuit. The 35-year-old’s relationship with head coach Brendon McCullum has been cracking since during the Ashes, and now his backing from the ECB after the latest incident will also weaken.
England have not yet named the replacements for the second squad. But with Atkinson and Stokes all but confirmed to miss, Jofra Archer might be asked to end his vacation in Barbados and join the team that will require a fast bowling spearhead and someone inspirational. Sonny Baker and Matthew Fisher were in the squad for the first Test.
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