England’s Director of Cricket considers imposing alcohol ban on team

Director of cricket Rob Key is considering imposing an alcohol ban on the England team and has given no assurances Ben Stokes will remain Test captain.

All-rounder Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson will not play in the second Test against New Zealand after being involved in an incident in a London nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning.

It is the latest alcohol-related controversy to hit the England team in the past six months. Six of the XI who played in the first-Test win over the Black Caps at Lord’s have been caught in late-night misdemeanours.

Following allegations of a drinking culture that dogged the winter, England introduced a midnight curfew, which was broken by Stokes and Atkinson.

And Key admitted he may need to take further steps for England to regain the trust of the public.

“Do we need to look at have we been strict enough?” said Key. “Even when they win a game of cricket, is it now a time when there’s just no alcohol at any time and at any stage?

“I need to think through these things because I don’t want to make a rash decision that hinders the team and creates a situation where they don’t feel they can do anything.

“But the players now have to show the public they can be trusted. At this point it’s hard to say they can.”

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

In a statement released on Monday, the ECB revealed the pair had broken the curfew. It later emerged that 35-year-old Stokes and Atkinson, 28, were present when a member of the England security staff was struck by Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa. The member of security was left bloodied and required medical attention.

Key confirmed the curfew is in place throughout the series against New Zealand and also revealed Atkinson claimed not to know it was in operation when the first Test concluded on Sunday. (BBC Sport)