Ben Stokes made a mistake but shouldn’t be sacked as Test captain: Michael Vaughan
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has backed Ben Stokes to remain England Test captain despite the ongoing controversy surrounding his breach of team protocols, claiming the all-rounder made a mistake but should not lose his job over the incident.
Vaughan said in The Telegraph that Stokes had clearly crossed the line by breaching the team’s curfew, but questioned whether the offense was serious enough to warrant his removal as captain.
“Yes, Ben Stokes broke curfew. Yes, he made a mistake. But as an England Test captain is that a sacking offence? I don’t think so,” Vaughan wrote.
The former England captain added that while the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had every right to take disciplinary action, he did not agree to any move to remove Stokes from a leadership role.
“The ECB needs to be brave and strong enough to do what it thinks is right. If it’s to fire him, fine, but I don’t agree with that decision on this matter,” Vaughan wrote.
Vaughan’s defense of Stokes comes as the England captain’s future has become a major point of contention following a breach of team protocols. While Vaughan conceded that disciplinary action may be necessary, he argued that punishment should be proportionate to the offence.
The former captain argued that an error in judgment should not automatically lead to the loss of the captaincy, especially given Stokes’ role in England’s recent success in Test cricket.
CURFEW PROBE VIOLATION
Stokes to miss England’s second Test against New Zealand at The Oval following an incident at a London nightclub earlier this week.
Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson broke the team’s midnight curfew after celebrating England’s first Test victory over New Zealand into the early hours of Monday. The pair were present when a member of England’s security staff was hit by Saracens rugby player Toto Auvao.
The security guard was reportedly bloodied and required medical treatment following the incident.
The ECB confirmed on Monday night that it was investigating a breach of team protocols, while both Stokes and Atkinson they are also being investigated by the cricket regulator.
With Stokes unavailable, England have turned to former captain Joe Root to lead the side at The Oval, bypassing Harry Brook despite his role as vice-captain.
The ECB denied reports suggesting Stokes had been asked to resign, instead giving the 35-year-old time to consider his options.
THE BROOK CASE
A significant part of Vaughan’s arguments centered on what he believes was the ECB’s inconsistent handling of the previous disciplinary matter involving Brook.
“The problem with ECB chief executive Richard Gould and director of cricket Rob Key is the poor handling of the Brook situation, which set a precedent,” Vaughan wrote.
Brook was involved in an incident at a nightclub in Wellington in October, the night before he captained England in a one-day international against New Zealand. The batter was hit by a bouncer and details of the incident were not released until months later.
Following an investigation by the Cricket Regulator, Brook was given a final warning and fined, while team-mates Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue were also investigated. No action was taken against Tongue.
According to Vaughan, the ECB’s decision to allow Brook to continue as captain while imposing only a financial penalty weakened its authority to deal with future disciplinary breaches.
“They allowed him to continue as captain, hushed it up, and by being so lenient put themselves in a position where they had to make a strong case in the future for any other minor breach of team rules,” Vaughan wrote.
CALLS FOR CONSISTENCY
Vaughan also questioned whether financial penalties alone are enough to deter players from repeating mistakes.
“They hit Brook with a fine, not a suspension. A fine is nothing to these guys. So if management at the highest level lets the team get away with a lot, don’t be surprised if it happens again,” he wrote.
With the ongoing investigations into Stokes and Atkinson, the ECB faces a major decision on how to respond. While Vaughan acknowledged that the England skipper made an error in judgement, he remains convinced that one error should not be enough to end Stokes’ tenure as captain.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
10 Jun 2026 23:42 IST