Following a nightclub incident involving Ben Stokes, England cricket head Rob Key is considering placing a complete alcohol ban on the team. However, he stated that “no rash decisions” will be taken regarding the all-rounder’s long-term future as Test captain.
Following England’s victory in the series opener at Lord’s, Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson were dropped for violating a curfew. As a result, Stokes will miss the second Test match against New Zealand at the Oval next week. Totoa Auvaa, a rugby union player from Saracens, got into a fight with them after their night out.
Saracens, the independent Cricket Regulator, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are still looking into the incident.
Despite rumors that the 35-year-old would voluntarily step down as captain or possibly give up playing international cricket, Stokes has remained silent.
However, during his first public discussion of the matter at an Oval press conference on Thursday, Key, the managing director of men’s cricket at the ECB, did not rule out depriving Stokes of leadership responsibilities.
“Can Ben captain (England) again? I think we’ve just got to let that play out. The decision, as I look forward, is about what’s best for the team and what’s best for Ben as well. I haven’t got an answer for that at the moment, to be honest,” AFP quoted Key as saying.
“Time is probably the best thing for all of us. Nobody wants to make any rash decisions, whether that’s on Ben’s side or the other end. We’ll take the next step when we get to that,” added Key, a former England batsman.
After working with Stokes to draft a new code of conduct in the wake of England’s disastrous 1-4 Ashes series defeat in Australia in January, where they were accused of allowing a drinking culture, Key made no attempt to express his annoyance at recent incidents.
He stated that he was considering an even harsher guideline that would completely prohibit alcohol consumption by players serving for England.
“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?,” said Key. “The players now have to show the public that they can be trusted. At this point it’s hard to say they can.
“We don’t want our players out late at night in alcohol-related incidents.”
“I don’t think they’ve become a national embarrassment. I think that Stokes and (coach Brendon) McCullum are (one of) the most successful coach and captain partnerships we’ve had.”
Instead of vice-captain Harry Brook, who was warned and fined for a fight with a bouncer at a nightclub in Wellington, New Zealand, in November, Joe Root was appointed interim captain for the second Test of series at the Oval.
“We just thought this was too big a job at this stage for Harry to take on. Ultimately, when English cricket’s in a hole, Joe Root is the man that we ask to dig us out of it, whether that’s on the field or off the field. We’re incredibly lucky to have him. And when I spoke to him about whether he would consider this, he didn’t hesitate,” admitted Key.
