Ben Stokes is considering walking away from international cricket after claims he has been given an ultimatum by England chiefs to quit the Test captaincy or be sacked.
The 35-year-old has been one of the most inspirational leaders in England’s history but if this is to be the end to his storied career it would be both sad and unnecessary.
Having broken “protocols” by staying out past the team’s midnight curfew with Gus Atkinson following the first Test victory against New Zealand at Lord’s last Sunday, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has opened an investigation into what it termed an “incident” in a west London nightclub in which Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa allegedly aimed a punch at Atkinson.
While missing the Surrey bowler, Auvaa is said to have instead struck a member of England’s security team who was accompanying the players.
While the ECB is still establishing all the facts, the incident is serious enough for Stokes to be considering his future. The possibility of a two-match ban that would rule the captain out of the final two Tests against New Zealand has been mooted.
