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16h ago

Ben Stokes Reinstated as England Captain After ECB Clears Players Over Nightclub Incident

ECB issued written warnings on Sunday for a curfew breach while concluding neither player was responsible for violent conduct and approving their recall for the Trent Bridge Test.

Cricket - England v New Zealand - First Test - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 7, 2026 England's Gus Atkinson celebrates with Ben Stokes and Jacob Bethell after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Nathan Smith, caught out by Jamie Smith Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
England captain Ben Stokes is expected to return next week at Trent Bridge (Photo: PA)
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Overview

  • The ECB concluded a disciplinary hearing on Sunday and found Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson had breached a team midnight curfew; both received written warnings but were cleared of violent conduct.
  • The board said evidence showed Atkinson was the victim of unprovoked attacks and Stokes was not involved in or a witness to the altercation at a Chelsea nightclub.
  • Both players were withdrawn from their County Championship fixtures on Sunday and were named in England’s 15‑player squad for the deciding third Test at Trent Bridge, with Brendon McCullum confirming Stokes will resume the captaincy.
  • Stokes and Atkinson had been made unavailable for the second Test after the June 8 incident; England lost that match by 253 runs while Stokes hit 95 for Durham during the interim.
  • The episode sits inside a wider effort by England management to tighten off‑field standards after recent alcohol‑related breaches and has prompted public debate about team culture and possible stricter protocols.