England men’s director of cricket Rob Key has urged patience following the disciplinary incident involving Test captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson. Key said the ECB would not make any hasty decisions about Stokes’ future as captain while a formal investigation into the nightclub controversy continues.
An off-field brawl broke out in London after the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s Cricket Ground. England won by 115 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the current three-match series. The second Test is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, June 17 at the Kennington Oval in London.
We have to run an investigation – Rob Key reacts to the Ben Stokes-Gus Atkinson incident
Speaking at the Oval on Thursday, Rob Key admitted he was shocked to learn that Ben Stokes was involved in the late night incident. The England men’s director of cricket said the investigation must be completed before any decision can be made about Stokes’ future as captain.
“overriding [emotion] It was surprising to learn that Ben was involved,” Key said. “We have to run an investigation, find out what really happened. I think the decision is about what’s best for the team and what’s best for Ben as well. It’s not just about what happened on Sunday night, it’s about the best thing moving forward. We need time, because this is a big decision.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Wednesday that Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been left out of the squad for the second Test against New Zealand. Former captain Joe Root will lead England at the Kennington Oval in Stokes’ absence.
Rob Key said on Ben Stokes controversy, very angry
Rob Key admitted that he is still angry about the incident involving Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson. Key said the priority is to complete the investigation and ensure the right decision is made for both the team and Stokes.
“I think the first thing you think of when you hear that is there’s a lot of anger and I’m not sure I’ve got over it yet,” Key said. “And you don’t want to make decisions when you’re feeling like that. But I’m really worried about Ben, too.
“Right now, whatever we’re talking to him about, it seems like he’s OK. But right now we’ve let the process play out, not made any rushed decisions. And we mean that to him as much as we do to anything else. There’s no need to rush into anything.”
Players have to show the public they can be trusted – Rob’s take on England’s discipline standards
Rob Key said that after the latest controversy, England may review the rules of its current team. He said management should consider whether stricter policies, including a strict ban on alcohol during tours, are needed to prevent similar incidents.
“Do we really need to see them [the rules] Have they become quite strict?” Key said. “Even when they win a game of cricket, has the time now come when there will be no alcohol at any time and at any level?”
“I need to think about these things because I don’t want to make a hasty decision that will hinder the team and create a situation where they don’t feel they can do something. But the players now have to show the public that they can be trusted. It’s difficult to say at the moment that they can do that.”
Stokes succeeds Joe Root as England’s Test captain in 2022. He has led the team to 24 wins in 43 Test matches, although England recently suffered a 4-1 Ashes series defeat in Australia.
