Ben Stokes hugs Gus Atkinson after England's victory in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty ImagesJune 8, 2026 Updated 1:52 pm EDTThe England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is investigating a potential “breach of team protocols” involving captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson following “an incident” at a nightclub after the conclusion of the first Test against New Zealand.The ECB confirmed the news in a statement on Monday evening, saying the incident happened in the early hours of that morning.England completed victory in their opening Test of the summer before lunch on Sunday, taking the five remaining New Zealand wickets to secure a 115-run win at Lord’s.Following a series of incidents involving alcohol during this winter’s Ashes series, the England management had imposed a midnight curfew on the players and staff.“The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men’s Test against New Zealand,” the statement read. “Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning when an incident took place.
“We are currently seeking further information, and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course. The Cricket Regulator has been informed and we will provide a further update when possible.”Atkinson returned second-innings figures of 5-30 as New Zealand were dismissed for only 138 on Sunday. “I’m not going to lie, I’m very, very happy that we’ve won this week,” Stokes told journalists at the end of the game. “I knew how big this game was in terms of the result and how it was going to be perceived externally if it didn’t go well.“I won’t be really happy until I get to share a beer with the boys.”Members of the England were pictured drinking during their mid-series break in Noosa over the winter’s Ashes series in Australia. A video also emerged of opening batter Ben Duckett appearing inebriated, and it later came out that white-ball captain Harry Brook had become involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer during the white-ball tour of New Zealand just prior to the team’s departure for Australia.Speaking during the Ashes tour in December, England’s managing director of cricket Rob Key denied the team had a drinking culture.England are due to begin the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval on June 17.
