Stokes, Atkinson under ECB investigation cloud following nightclub incident

New Zealand tour of England, 2026
Last updated on Mon, Jun 8, 2026 • 5:53 PM

England captain Ben Stokes and pacer Gus Atkinson are under investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board for breaching team protocols after the team's 115-run win over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord's.

A statement by the ECB confirmed that Stokes and Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning where "an incident took place." The ECB is awaiting further information and did not specify details.

An announcement on the squad for the second Test at The Oval, scheduled to begin on June 17, will be made in due course.

The development adds to England's off-field controversies. In October last year, white-ball skipper Harry Brook was involved in a confrontation with a bouncer on the eve of an ODI against New Zealand in Wellington. Brook later issued an apology and was fined GBP 30,000.

During the Ashes, claims of players drinking excessively during a mid-tour retreat to Noosa surfaced, with team director Rob Key declaring an investigation.

Stokes himself was arrested and temporarily suspended following a brawl outside a nightclub in Bristol in September 2017. He was later found not guilty of affray charges.