England captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson are under investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaching the code of conduct after the first Test against New Zealand.
The Three Lions outplayed New Zealand by 115 runs in the series opener on a topsy-turvy Lord’s surface that drew criticism from former cricketers.
ECB has confirmed an incident in a press release statement regarding Stokes and Atkinson.
“The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men’s Test against New Zealand,” the board said.
“Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning when an incident took place,” it added.
England’s governing body also hinted at a possible change in the second Test lineup, with further updates to be provided in due course.
“We are currently seeking further information, and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course.
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“The Cricket Regulator has been informed and we will provide a further update when possible,” it concluded.
For those unaware, this was the first Test match since the Ashes debacle for England. The tour down under was also marked by scrutiny of England’s off-field behavior, resulting in a fine on white-ball captain Harry Brook for misconduct in New Zealand.
Brook was punched ahead of the Ashes by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington before the ODI against New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Stokes was previously involved in a late-night incident outside a nightclub in Bristol following an ODI match against the West Indies in 2017. A fight broke out involving Stokes and another man, leaving the former with a hand injury.
He was later arrested and charged, but the prosecution service dropped the charges, allowing him to continue his international career.
