Ben Stokes 'not involved' in nightclub 'altercation', Gus Atkinson 'victim of unprovoked attacks' as findings of ECB investigation released
Updated 21/06/2026 at 18:20 GMT+1
React to this story
Ben Stokes is set to return to captain England for the third Test of the summer against New Zealand at Trent Bridge on Thursday, after an ECB investigation found the all-rounder and Gus Atkinson were not to blame for an incident in a London nightclub.
Stokes faces media: Robin Smith tribute, why England picked Jacks - and wearing helmets on scooters
Video credit: TNT Sports
Stokes was a notable absentee from the team for the second Test at The Oval, with the all-rounder removed from the squad alongside Atkinson.
At the time of their removal from the squad, it was confirmed that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was "investigating a breach of team protocols" by Stokes and Atkinson.
Stokes and Atkinson were at a nightclub in the hours after England’s win over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s.
An incident involving a player from Saracens rugby club took place, while it was widely reported that the pair had broken a team curfew after being out beyond midnight.
It was confirmed by England coach Brendon McCullum that Stokes and Atkinson would return to the squad, and the ECB released the findings of its investigation later on Sunday.
Stokes and Atkinson were found to have breached the team’s midnight curfew, and were handed written warnings, but they were blameless with regard to an incident which left a member of England’s security team requiring medical attention.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/06/21/image-426dd529-6517-4ac3-9122-2d603058fe39.jpeg)
Ben Stokes appeals during the County Championship Division 2 match between Durham and Northamptonshire
Image credit: Getty Images
A statement from the ECB read: ”Stokes and Atkinson were found to have breached specific contractual obligations that require England players to at all times maintain the highest standards of conduct and act in the best interests of England cricket.
”In addition to not being considered for selection for the second Rothesay Test, they have both been given a written warning as to their conduct.
”It was also concluded that no blame should be attached to the players for violent conduct at the nightclub.
”Stokes was not involved in the altercation and did not witness either incident.
”The evidence the ECB has seen demonstrates that Atkinson was the victim of unprovoked attacks and did not retaliate on either occasion.”
McCullum 'excited' about Stokes return
While England were falling to defeat in the second Test to New Zealand by 253 runs, Stokes took to the field for Durham in the County Championship and made a rapid 95.
He was pulled from the Durham team for the fourth day of their match with Northamptonshire, which increased speculation that he would be back in the England fold for the third Test. That was confirmed by McCullum in London on Sunday.
"Ben will be back," McCullum said. "He'll be back and he'll be captain. We'll name the squad this afternoon. Ben will be back and be captain. Everyone is excited about that."
During England’s chastening Ashes defeat to Australia during the winter, it had been reported that the relationship between coach and captain had grown strained.
McCullum said on Sunday that their relationship was strong, and he had been in regular contact with Stokes in the days after the Lord's Test.
"You've got to separate the actions from the man, so I was disappointed in the actions and us not meeting the standards which we set for ourselves, but then you support the man, and I've always firmly believed in that, and in Stokes' case, that's no different," McCullum said.
"I think we have the same vision for what we're trying to achieve with English cricket, which is to be a team which is long term, sustainably successful, and if we're able to continue to push towards that, then hopefully we'll achieve it."
Asked about the findings of the ECB investigation, McCullum added: "You had to go through a process, you had to wait for what the regulator came out with.
"It's an internal disciplinary process, which we needed to go through as well. Until you have that information, then no one's ever going to be able to make any decisions, and that's just a formal process that needs to go through.
"I think we've always backed [Stokes], and I talked extensively about it over the last four years, we've worked collaboratively together for the betterment of English cricket, and we've always had the same vision and goal at hand, and that hasn't changed."
The series will be on the line in Nottingham on Thursday, with England and New Zealand level at 1-1 in the three-Test contest.
Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is HBO Max, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes live sport and entertainment in one destination.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement