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ECB Reinstates Ben Stokes as England Test Captain After Nightclub Inquiry

The board issued written warnings for a curfew breach but found no blame for the violent altercation, a move that restores England’s preferred XI for the deciding Test while leaving questions about rules and culture unresolved.

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 England and Wales Cricket Board concluded its disciplinary hearing on Sunday and included Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson in the squad for the third Test after finding they breached conduct rules and issuing written warnings.
  • The ECB’s findings said the pair broke a midnight curfew linked to post‑Lord’s celebrations on June 8 but that Stokes was not involved in the nightclub violence and Atkinson was the victim of unprovoked attacks.
  • Both players were left out of the second Test and withdrawn from their county matches while investigations ran, with Stokes scoring 95 for Durham before being pulled out ahead of his England return.
  • England were beaten by 253 runs at The Oval in the second Test without Stokes, and his reinstatement as captain for the Trent Bridge match starting June 25 restores balance to the side’s batting and bowling mix.
  • The episode has renewed scrutiny of how the ECB communicates and enforces curfew rules introduced after past alcohol‑related incidents, and senior figures have signalled tougher conduct measures could follow.