LONDON : England head coach Brendon McCullum said his initial anger over the nightclub incident involving captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson quickly gave way to concern for Stokes after the pair were dropped for the second test against New Zealand.
Stokes and Atkinson were omitted from the side for the match at The Oval after breaching the team’s midnight curfew. British media reported the pair were present when an England security staff member was involved in an incident with a Saracens rugby player.
“You go from being bewildered, to angry, to gutted,” McCullum told reporters on Monday.
“Quickly through talking to Ben and Gus, my emotion turned to worry and concern — for Ben in particular.”
The latest controversy adds to a string of off-field issues for England. Vice-captain Harry Brook was punched by a bouncer outside a nightclub in Wellington in October, while videos emerged during the Ashes series showing players drinking during a break in Noosa.
Although England managing director Rob Key dismissed suggestions of a “drinking culture” within the team earlier this year, the England and Wales Cricket Board subsequently introduced a strict midnight curfew.
McCullum said the immediate focus was on supporting Stokes rather than discussing any potential implications for his captaincy.
“Our concern is with Ben, our concern is handling that situation, making sure we look after him, that he feels supported by us and in communication with us,” McCullum said.
“We need to make sure we look after him, rally around him, and in time we’ll get on to those sorts of decisions.”
Stokes was involved in an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in 2017 but was later cleared of charges. The all-rounder also took an extended break from cricket in 2021 to prioritise his mental wellbeing.
“Whatever he is working through at the moment, it will be because Ben thinks that’s right for dealing with what he’s feeling at the moment,” McCullum said.
“We’ve always had the best intentions of English cricket at the core of what we are trying to achieve and the decisions we’re trying to make.
“Right now, I have a lot of respect, a lot of care for Ben, and I’m doing what I can to support him.”
England lead the three-test series 1-0 and will be captained by Joe Root in a reshuffled side for the second test, which begins on Wednesday. Jofra Archer returns to the squad, while batter Jordan Cox and fast bowler Sonny Baker are set to make their test debuts.
