{"id":2772,"date":"2026-06-12T09:27:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T09:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=2772"},"modified":"2026-06-12T09:27:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T09:27:15","slug":"england-consider-banning-alcohol-as-ben-stokes-nightclub-incident-could-prompt-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=2772","title":{"rendered":"England consider BANNING alcohol as Ben Stokes nightclub incident could prompt retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_1a5e55\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">England director of cricket Rob Key has spoken publicly for the first time since Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were dropped from the Test side for breaking a team curfew in a nightclub<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37282479\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ben Stokes\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37282479.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2280466835.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37282479.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2280466835.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37282479.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2280466835.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37282479.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2280466835.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Ben Stokes has been dropped for the second Test at The Oval\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Ben Stokes has been dropped for the second Test at The Oval<cite aria-label=\"Image: Gareth Copley\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Gareth Copley\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Rob Key says there will be \u201cno rash decisions\u201d as uncertainty continues to cloud Ben Stokes \u2019 future as England captain, but is considering imposing an outright alcohol ban on a squad he fears is losing public trust.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Stokes will miss next week\u2019s Oval Test against New Zealand after he and team-mate Gus Atkinson breached a midnight curfew on a night out that ended in a confrontation involving Saracens rugby union player Totoa Auvaa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The incident is currently subject to an England and Wales Cricket Board investigation, and has also been referred to the Cricket Regulator, but speculation continues to swirl over the fate of one of the country\u2019s most high-profile athletes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">All options appear to be on the table, from the ECB ending Stokes\u2019 captaincy, to the all-rounder walking away or even retiring from international duty. Key, managing director of men\u2019s cricket at the ECB, addressed the issue for the first time on Thursday and did not rule out stripping the 35-year-old of his duties.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!<\/strong><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MirrorSport#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">  All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cCan Ben captain again? I think we\u2019ve just got to let that play out. The decision, as I look forward, is about what\u2019s best for the team and what\u2019s best for Ben as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI haven\u2019t got an answer for that at the moment, to be honest. It\u2019s still very raw, certainly for Ben, Brendon (McCullum, head coach), myself, the ECB. Ben has been through a range of emotions, as you would do in this situation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cA lot of people have had phone calls (where) you\u2019re just in disbelief, then you get angry. There\u2019s a load of things and I\u2019m still not sure I\u2019m over those at the moment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cTime is probably the best thing for all of us. Nobody wants to make any rash decisions, whether that\u2019s on Ben\u2019s side or the other end. We\u2019ll take the next step when we get to that.\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37269670\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37269670\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"ben Stokes\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37269670.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2279680081.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37269670.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2279680081.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37269670.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2279680081.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37269670.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2279680081.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Ben Stokes could lose the England captaincy over the nightclub incident\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Ben Stokes could lose the England captaincy over the nightclub incident<cite aria-label=\"Image: Henry Nicholls \/ AFP via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Henry Nicholls \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Asked if the delay meant that firing Stokes as skipper was off the table, Key added: \u201cI\u2019m not saying that. At this point in time, it has not crossed my mind to get that far ahead. As far as sacking, or any of that stuff, we haven\u2019t got anywhere close to being that far in the process.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But Key made no secret of his own disillusionment after he and Stokes worked together on a new code of conduct following the excesses of a chaotic Ashes tour. He is now considering going even further than a curfew and laying down a no-booze policy on England duty. The Press Association has clarified that there is no such curfew for England Women at the T20 World Cup which begins at Edgbaston on Friday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m trying to give myself a bit of time, but do we need to look and say, have they (the rules) actually been strict enough?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cEven when they win a game of cricket, is it now a time when there\u2019s just no alcohol at any time and at any stage? The players now have to show the public that they can be trusted. At this point it\u2019s hard to say they can.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36356858\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36356858\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Joe Root\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36356858.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_JS389847841.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36356858.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_JS389847841.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36356858.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_JS389847841.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36356858.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_JS389847841.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Joe Root has been reinstated as Test captain\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Joe Root has been reinstated as Test captain<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s not just about the protocols, in the conditions of employment there\u2019s a number of ways you\u2019re expected to behave as an England cricketer. We don\u2019t want our players out late at night in alcohol-related incidents.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019ve become a national embarrassment. I think that Stokes and McCullum are (one of) the most successful coach and captain partnerships we\u2019ve had. So I think that\u2019s far too strong a word.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Key also reflected on the decision to temporarily place Stokes\u2019 predecessor Joe Root in charge, overlooking vice-captain Harry Brook, who was fined and warned for a nightclub scuffle of his own in November.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cWe just thought this was too big a job at this stage for Harry to take on,\u201d Key admitted. \u201cUltimately, when English cricket\u2019s in a hole, Joe Root is the man that we ask to dig us out of it. Whether that\u2019s on the field or off the field. We\u2019re incredibly lucky to have him. And when I spoke to him about whether he would consider this, he didn\u2019t hesitate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>England director of cricket Rob Key has spoken publicly for the first time since Ben<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2773,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2772"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2772\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}