Ben Stokes will watch this week’s second Test against New Zealand from the sidelines, and head coach Brendon McCullum says his main feeling is not frustration but “worry and concern for Ben in particular”.
The all-rounder, along with seamer Gus Atkinson, broke England’s midnight curfew in the early hours after last week’s Lord’s victory. A scuffle outside a London bar followed; the team’s security liaison officer was struck by a Saracens rugby player and required medical attention. Both players have been stood down while the ECB and the independent Cricket Regulator run parallel investigations.
McCullum learnt of the incident on Monday morning. “Bewildered, on to angry, on to kind of gutted,” was how he described his initial reaction. Yet, after a couple of conversations with the pair, especially Stokes, his mood changed.
“To hear about this was incredibly gutting,” McCullum said at The Oval. “When you’re in roles like this you have to start trying to separate the action from the man. Very quickly, though, talking to Ben in particular, and also Gus, my overall emotion turned to worry and concern for Ben in particular. Since then, it has been about how we support these guys, whilst not overlooking the fact they have not lived up to the standards we have set for ourselves.”
England’s curfew – midnight throughout the series – was introduced by the captain and coach in 2022, part of a wider attempt to sharpen professionalism without draining fun from the dressing-room. By bending their own rule, Stokes and Atkinson have embarrassed a group that prides itself on player-led discipline. McCullum was blunt: “You can’t walk past that, and we’ll deal with that in time and through a process.”
Stokes spent the weekend back at Durham, bowling gently in the nets and, by all accounts, trying to get his head straight. He is expected to face Northamptonshire in the County Championship on Friday. Whether he returns for the third Test at Trent Bridge hinges on how quickly the governing bodies conclude their inquiries.
Rob Key, the managing director, spoke last week with more heat than usual. He would not rule out stripping Stokes of the captaincy if the findings warrant it, though he stressed no decision would be taken until “we know every last detail”.
McCullum echoed that stance but refused to close the door on his skipper. “We need to go through a process,” he said. “I look at the time, the last four years I’ve worked intimately with Ben. I’ve seen Ben be an unbelievable captain. I’ve seen him at his absolute best as a captain, his best as a player. He’s helped shape this environment over the last four years… What will be will be down the line. Those decisions are not for now.”
The head coach’s priority, he insisted, is Stokes the person rather than Stokes the captain. “The concern is making sure Ben is fine. We need to make sure we look after him, rally around him,” he said.
Analysis
1. Culture hit: England’s Bazball era has sold itself on trust and accountability. When the man who set the rules breaks them, that ethos takes a dent. The squad will need to show the curfew was not just window-dressing.
2. Cricketing impact: Stokes’ absence leaves a chunky hole at No.6 – one that not even England’s deep batting reserves fill easily because he balances the attack with the ball. Atkinson’s raw pace is also missing, meaning an extra load for veteran quicks.
3. Captaincy question: It is notable neither Key nor McCullum has publicly guaranteed Stokes the armband. That’s pragmatic – an investigation has to run its course – but also a reminder England do have options, namely Ollie Pope or Joe Root, should they feel a fresh voice is required.
4. Mental health angle: Stokes has spoken before about anxiety and burnout. McCullum’s repeated references to “worry” suggest those struggles are front of mind once more. A short spell back in county cricket, away from the glare, might help.
For now the immediate task is beating New Zealand without their talisman. The broader, more delicate job is guiding Stokes through another off-field storm while keeping the team’s hard-won culture intact.
