Ben Stokes: England cricket could take into account alcohol ban after nightclub incident, says Rob Key

Stokes and Atkinson are the topic of an investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and have been made unavailable for at the very least the second Check, which begins on 17 June, pending the outcomes of the inquiry.

In a press release launched on Monday, the ECB revealed the pair had damaged the curfew. It later emerged that 35-year-old Stokes and Atkinson, 28, have been current when a member of the England safety employees was struck by Saracens rugby participant Totoa Auvaa. The member of safety was left bloodied and required medical consideration.

Key confirmed the curfew is in place all through the sequence in opposition to New Zealand and likewise revealed Atkinson claimed to not realize it was in operation when the primary Check concluded on Sunday.

Requested by BBC Sport if he felt Stokes might resign the captaincy and retire from enjoying, Key mentioned: “He has not intimated that to me.”

On whether or not Stokes will play for England once more, Key responded: “I do not see why not.”

However on if Stokes will resume the captaincy, a place he has held since 2022, Key supplied no ensures.

“There are numerous issues to occur earlier than then,” mentioned Key. “We have to run the investigation, discover out what occurred precisely. We’re within the midst of that for the time being. No choices will probably be made till after that.”

Pressed on the topic, Key replied: “We simply must let this play out. No choices have been made on our facet.

“We have not given him an ultimatum, we’re simply talking to him on a regular basis to make it possible for he’s alright. It is clearly been a traumatic time for him over the previous few days. When issues are like that you do not wish to make any choices. Time is our ally on this.”

Harry Brook is Stokes’ vice-captain within the Check workforce, but the captaincy has been handed to Joe Root for the second Check starting on Wednesday.

Brook, 27, was concerned in a nightclub controversy of his personal when he was punched by a bouncer in Wellington in October, the night time earlier than main England in a one-day worldwide in opposition to New Zealand.

And though Key mentioned there have been “many causes” why Brook had not been chosen to skipper within the second Check, the previous Kent batter admitted it could have been “fairly exhausting” to make Brook captain contemplating what occurred in Wellington.

“That will be considered one of them,” mentioned Key, when requested if Wellington was a purpose for Brook to not be elevated to Check captain. “That is not the primary purpose, that is for positive.

“I simply do not feel it’s the proper time. That is a call we got here to. The Check captaincy is a large job, even in an interim foundation, particularly going into this subsequent Check match and every thing Harry must cope with.”

The scrutiny of England’s off-field actions in the course of the winter was compounded by some dreadful performances on the sphere in a 4-1 Ashes sequence defeat.

The ECB performed a evaluate into the tour of Australia, and opted to maintain Key, Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum of their posts.