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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has reportedly urged Ben Stokes not to make any hasty decisions on his future as fears grow that the Test captain could step away from the role and retire altogether following the nightclub controversy.
ECB officials have given Ben Stokes “time and space” to decide his next move after emergency discussions on Tuesday, according to a report from Telegraph Sport. The report adds that officials want the England captain to carefully consider his future rather than making an emotional decision following the incident.
The development comes after reports emerged that Stokes was considering not only his future as England captain but also the possibility of retiring from international cricket altogether. Although ECB officials do not expect Stokes to retire, they are not completely ruling out this possibility.
Ben Stokes currently finds himself at the center of an ECB investigation after he and fast bowler Gus Atkinson violated England’s midnight curfew and got involved in a nightclub incident following the team’s 115-run win over New Zealand at Lord’s.
ECB gives time to Ben Stokes to decide on future
Telegraph Sport report that all options are available to Ben Stokes as he considers what happens next.
The England captain may decide to fight for his position and accept any punishment handed down by the ECB. Another possibility is that he voluntarily steps down as Test captain, while the most dramatic outcome would be the end of his England career altogether.
Reports say that Ben Stokes is deeply affected by the events that unfolded on Sunday night and is even considering his future as an international cricketer. He is expected to discuss with his longtime agent Neil Fairbrother before making any major decisions.
However, fears over a potential retirement were eased slightly on Tuesday afternoon when ECB officials reportedly made it clear that they want Stokes to take his time.
While Ben Stokes is dealing with the fallout of the controversy, he is not a man known for backing down from difficult situations.
Additionally, reports suggest that his future as Test captain is becoming increasingly uncertain. Even if he avoids retirement, England could be preparing for a leadership change in the near future.
The ECB is expected to announce its squad for the second Test against New Zealand later this week, whether or not full clarity emerges on Stokes’ situation.
How did the nightclub phenomenon grow?
The controversy stems from incidents that unfolded after England’s victory in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.
Several England players spent Sunday evening at the White Horse pub on Parsons Green, where Stokes was seen socializing with England rugby captain Maro Itoje. Stokes was seen enjoying drinks with rugby players after the Test victory, but the event later moved on to other events.
While many England cricketers returned to the team hotel before the midnight curfew, Stokes and Atkinson continued their evening at the Rex Rooms nightclub in Chelsea.
Telegraph Sport reported that the brawl involved 21-year-old Saracens academy player Totoa Auwa. The disagreement is understood to have started due to confusion over the reserved VIP seating area.
According to the report, Auwa believed that a table had been reserved for Saracens player Ben Earl, when in fact it was booked in the name of Ben Stokes. When the misunderstanding was cleared up, the situation escalated into a heated argument before turning into a confrontation outside the nightclub.
It was reported that Auwa allegedly attempted to punch Atkinson, but missed and instead hit England’s security contact James Shaw, who required stitches. Neither Stokes nor Atkinson were injured, although police were not involved in the incident.
Stokes’s involvement in the controversy was considered peripheral. However, there is no dispute that both he and Atkinson breached the curfew rules imposed by England earlier this year.
Doubts on the captaincy are increasing as the investigation continues.
The timing of the controversy has made it particularly damaging for English cricket. Following a troubled Ashes tour and a number of off-field incidents, Stokes was one of the driving forces behind England’s new code of conduct. The rules included a midnight curfew, a requirement for players to inform management of their plans after 9 pm, a ban on appearing drunk in public and guidelines regarding alcohol-related social media activity.
Those rules were introduced following the incident with a Harry Brook nightclub bouncer in Wellington and criticism of England over drinking during the mid-series break in Noosa.
That context explains why the latest controversy has created such a difficult situation for the ECB. Ben Stokes and Atkinson are expected to face heavy fines while the cricket regulator and the ECB continue to investigate. There are fears that Atkinson will miss the second Test, while Stokes is also likely to be ruled out of the remaining matches of the New Zealand series.
If England need a new captain, Harry Brook is the clear favorite for the job despite his own disciplinary issues earlier this year.
