Ian Botham has criticised Ben Stokes after the England captain broke the team's curfew and was involved in an incident at a nightclub. Stokes, 35, and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were both dropped for the ongoing second Test against New Zealand after they stayed out beyond England's midnight curfew while celebrating going 1-0 up in the series.
It was inside a Chelsea nightclub where Stokes and Atkinson were caught up in an incident involving Saracens academy rugby union player Totoa Auvaa. The ECB quickly launched an investigation, the outcome of which is set to be released before the conclusion of the second Test at the Oval.
A report from the Telegraph states that although England insist no final decisions have been made, there has been a clear softening of attitudes. It's added that Stokes is likely in line to return as captain for the third and final Test at Trent Bridge next week.
Stokes initially considered stepping down from the role and retiring from cricket altogether. The all-rounder will instead return to action on Friday by playing for Durham in the County Championship.
Botham's Reaction
In the meantime, legendary former batsman Botham has hit out at the England skipper by labelling his behaviour 'unjustifiable'. "They never learn do they?" Botham lamented. "It's as simple as that.
"We as a club [Durham], when he had the problems in Bristol [in 2017], we stood by him, I stood by him, the whole team stood by him, I was chairman then. Everyone supported him then.
"I don't see how you can justify what happened after the game [at Lord's], especially when you were probably very much in charge of when the curfew is, midnight."
Drinking Culture Concerns
The incident involving Stokes and Atkinson refuelled accusations that a drinking culture exists within the England team. Before the Ashes in Australia, which itself brought about a number of alcohol-related incidents as well as a 4-1 defeat, white-ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington, New Zealand on the eve of an ODI.
England cricket chiefs subsequently imposed a midnight curfew on all players and staff. When addressing the decision to drop Stokes and Atkinson, managing director Rob Key suggested that England may have to ban their players from drinking around international matches.
Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Botham continued: "We used to love going out for a drink, but we weren't quite so obvious. In Australia, they go down 2-0. What did the team do? Go to Noosa for five days and everyone knows what happened.
"The other night, I was amazed. And what I can't get my head around is what the security bloke is doing there if he and they know they shouldn't be there after midnight… He shouldn't have to overrule him, because it shouldn't happen."
Head coach Brendon McCullum repeated at his press conference on Monday that he was 'worried' about Stokes, confirming that he'd been in 'constant competition'. Former skipper Joe Root has been serving as interim captain, with England currently chasing New Zealand's total of 391 in their first innings.
