After missing the most recent Test due to a curfew violation, returning captain Ben Stokes believed he had been “man enough” to apologize to his England teammates.
Following an altercation at a London nightclub commemorating England’s maiden victory in the series opener at Lord’s, Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were removed from the second Test match against New Zealand for violating a midnight curfew.
In their absence, New Zealand levelled the series at 1-1 going into the Nottingham final at Trent Bridge on Thursday. The England team, captained by stand-in captain Joe Root and featuring five changes, including three debutants, was thrashed by 253 runs at the Oval.
The drinking scandals that dogged England’s 1-4 Ashes loss in Australia preceded the curfew violation.
Stokes and Atkinson have both been reinstated to the England squad for the series finale after receiving a written conduct warning after being exonerated of any culpability in a physical incident.
Speaking to reporters at Trent Bridge on Wednesday, Stokes made his first public statement regarding the incident since he was left out of the second Test, stating that he was “back properly” for the final but declining to say if he was back permanently.
“I hope you (the media) respect in terms of this whole week, I’m (only) focusing on this week,” AFP quoted Stokes as saying.
“That’s where my focus is at right now… I’m here as captain of this team and all I want to do is get the team focused on winning here,” insisted Stokes, who made 95 for county side Durham last week.
“We are 1-1 in a three-match series and this week is massive for the team.”
When asked if he had apologized to the squad during his pre-training remarks on Wednesday, Stokes responded: “Of course. That was one of the first things I had to do as captain.
“It’s all fine, everything being fine and dandy, when it’s going well but you need to take responsibility for things as well.
“You need to be big enough and man enough to be able to take that upon your shoulders, look everyone in the eye who it’s affected and apologise how you need to apologise. That’s something I did.”
After four years as captain, Stokes said in a later interview with the BBC that the event had made him question whether he could still play for England as a team member.
“I’m 35 now and, even before this stuff all happened, I thought, ‘Could I ever see myself playing for England and not being captain?’. It’s a question I’ve never really been able to answer,” he said.
“I love playing for England, I love being captain of this team and that’s where I’m at with everything.”
Stokes declined to comment on the contentious question of whether players were aware that the curfew was still in effect both during and after a game.
However, he was more open about his relationship with head coach Brendon McCullum, stating that rumors of a falling out with the former New Zealand captain that initially appeared during the Ashes defeat were untrue.
“It’s been a big misconception around me and Brendon,” said Stokes. “We are genuinely very good mates.
“We certainly haven’t drifted apart, as there’s a bit of speculation about. Not agreeing on everything shouldn’t be seen as a divide between me and Brendon.”
Stokes praised the public support he has received during his brief foreign exile, and he is expected to receive a warm homecoming in Nottingham.
“It’s something I don’t want overlooked, the love and support I felt with all the speculation,” he said.
