‘Slap Ben Stokes with a suspend’: Former England nightclub controversy legend

Englishman Ben Stokes (Photo AP) England’s preparations for the second Test against New Zealand have been overshadowed by fresh off-field controversy involving captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson. The pair reportedly broke the team curfew after England won by 115 runs in the opening Test at Lord’s and later became involved in an argument which reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation.The rugby player involved has been identified by the British Press Association as Totoa Auvaa, a former Samoa A and Samoa Under-20 captain who stands 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) and weighs more than 124 kg. The investigation into the incident delayed the announcement of England’s squad for the second Test at The Oval and intensified scrutiny of Stokes’ management.The episode also fueled speculation about Stokes’ longer-term future. Recent reports suggest that the England all-rounder is reconsidering his international career, with retirement among the mooted options.

The boycott calls for a suspension, not a fine

Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott said the ECB must act decisively if Stokes is found to have breached team rules, arguing the captain should not receive special treatment because of his importance to the side.“The England and Wales Cricket Board must make an example of Ben Stokes and slap him after he was caught breaking the team’s curfew. You can’t have a captain blatantly breaking the rules and not do anything about it just because he is so important to the team,” Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph.Boycott also said the responsibility for dealing with the matter rested with the England cricket board, while acknowledging that any final judgment on Stokes’ future should await the outcome of the investigation.“If Rob Key, England’s director of cricket, or Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, are not up to the task of disciplining Stokes, then they shouldn’t be in the job. I’ve said before that Brendon McCullum and Key should have been sacked. Come on, Rob and Brendon, what are you going to do about it? Whether Stokes should be sacked depends on the full circumstances of the investigation, what happened before it happened. The court order,” he added.

Discipline and leadership under the spotlight

In Boycott’s view, the problem goes beyond one night and goes straight to the norms within the English setting. He argued that a token financial penalty would send the wrong message and that any penalty must underline the captain’s responsibility to lead by example.“But that doesn’t take away from the fact that Stokes as captain should set the tone. England can’t beat Australia next summer without discipline. And discipline applies off the pitch as well as on it. We don’t want a paltry fine. They’re making so much money now that a few thousand pounds means nothing to them. It’s a suspension we need to see,” he wrote.As the ECB’s investigation is still ongoing, no disciplinary outcome has yet been announced. Until that process is over, uncertainty continues to hang over Stokes, Atkinson and the England management ahead of the next Test.