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Great England cricketer Ian Botham has shared his views on the controversy surrounding current Test captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson during the ongoing three-match Test series against New Zealand on home soil.
Two England stars have landed in trouble after breaking the team’s midnight curfew and spending time at a nightclub. The incident shocked English cricket and resulted in both players being ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand at the Oval. During the episode, Geoffrey Boycott made a surprising captaincy decision of Joe Root vs Ben Stokes.
Ian Botham breaks silence on Ben Stokes-Gus Atkinson nightclub controversy
However, after a detailed independent investigation Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were cleared of any serious misconduct. The investigation found no evidence of violent behavior or any major wrongdoing. He was only given a written warning for violating team discipline rules.
As both Stokes and Atkinson are set to return for the third and final Test against the Kiwis at Trent Bridge, Ian Botham said things were very different during their playing days. The England legend has revealed that there was no strict curfew in his era, but players always understood the importance of behaving responsibly while representing their country.
Ian Botham shares old-school advice for modern cricketers
Botham believes that international cricketers should be cautious about where they spend their free time, especially during an important series. He suggested that players should avoid situations that could create unnecessary headlines and distract the team.
Ian Botham said on the “Stick to Cricket” podcast: “Curfew? I don’t think so, no. No, I don’t remember any curfew, no. But, as I say, discretion. And you have to do that. You’ve got England supporters there, and you’re all roaming around. The last place I’d go is where they all are in the evening. Just keep yourself to yourself.”
He added, “You can go to a nice restaurant, eat nice food and have a nice bottle of wine. That kind of thing, nobody would worry about it. But when they see the team floundering on the high road, which I didn’t see at all, but it certainly seemed very strange to me, you’d lose one Test, the next Test, you’d lose 2-0, and we’d have to struggle for five days.”
Ian Botham warns Ben Stokes
The renowned broadcaster has strongly criticized Ben Stokes over the latest nightclub controversy and has also questioned the role of the team’s security staff, saying the situation should never have been allowed to reach that level. After the ECB announced the squad for the India T20 series, Botham warned that the episode could damage Stokes’ future.
Botham also recalled the previous Bristol incident when everyone supported Stokes, and he stood by him as chairman but criticized the captain for the latest regrettable incident.
The Englishman signed off by saying, “He shouldn’t ignore the captain. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ben lost the captaincy, and he could walk away from the game. It was an unnecessary process and I think he will regret it.”
“It’s weird to me that you’re down 2-0 and you have five days left.”
Botham did not back down from the actions of the England team. pic.twitter.com/y90sh9w9HZ
– Stick To Cricket (@StickToCricket) June 23, 2026