LONDON : England captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson will face no further action over their involvement in a London nightclub incident after the Cricket Regulator concluded there was insufficient evidence to establish a regulatory breach.
The pair were omitted from England’s second test against New Zealand earlier this month after violating a team curfew following the hosts’ victory in the opening test at Lord’s.
The incident occurred at a London nightclub, where a member of England’s security staff was involved in an altercation with a Saracens rugby player.
While the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sanctioned Stokes and Atkinson for breaching team conduct regulations, an independent review by the Cricket Regulator reached a different conclusion regarding any potential regulatory offences.
“Having carefully reviewed all currently available information, the Cricket Regulator has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish that any regulatory breach occurred,” the regulator said in a statement on Monday.
“Accordingly, no further action will be taken against either player.”
The ECB had already completed its own disciplinary process, recalling both players to the squad for this week’s decisive third test after determining they had breached “specific contractual regulations” relating to conduct and behaviour.
Both Stokes and Atkinson received written warnings.
However, the ECB said neither player was responsible for the violence associated with the incident. According to its findings, Stokes was not present when the altercation occurred, while Atkinson was subjected to unprovoked attacks and did not retaliate.
The regulator’s decision clears the pair of any further disciplinary concerns ahead of the series finale.
England will welcome back regular captain Stokes for the third test starting on Thursday after Joe Root led the side in the second match, where New Zealand secured a 253-run victory at The Oval to level the three-test series at 1-1.
With the series finely poised, Stokes and Atkinson are expected to play key roles as England seek to clinch the decider and secure their first series win of the summer.
