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Close popoverBen Stokes reacts to England's win over New Zealand at Lord's
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The nightclub altercation involving England’s Ben Stokes and Gut Atkinson is the latest in a number of alcohol-related incidents in recent years, despite attempts to tackle the issue.
According to reports, Stokes is preparing to make a decision regarding his future as England captain following the ongoing repercussions of the incident involving him, Atkinson and a Saracens rugby player.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday morning at a Chelsea nightspot, took place after celebrations for England’s recent Test victory over New Zealand at Lord’s.
Here, we look at some of the moments that came before Stokes and Gus Atkinson’s ill-fated evening west London.
open image in galleryOutside the Rex Rooms nightclub where the incident took place (Getty)Bristol, 2017
Stokes was charged with affray after he and team-mate Alex Hales were drawn into in a late-night brawl outside a Bristol nightclub following a one-day international against the West Indies. Stokes was found not guilty in February 2018. He was subsequently fined and issued with a backdated ban by the cricket discipline commission, having already sat out the Ashes tour of 2017-18.
Perth, 2017
Ben Duckett was touring Australia with England Lions when he was sent home for tipping a drink over Test bowler James Anderson during a night out. Several years later Duckett revealed he had been on the receiving end of a similar act first and was encouraged to respond by Anderson. He would eventually earn his Test recall in 2022 and remains in the team.
open image in galleryBen Duckett was was sent home for tipping a drink over James Anderson during a night out (PA Wire)Hobart, 2022
After the final day of a 4-0 Ashes defeat in Hobart, members of the touring team socialised with Australian counterparts in a session that went on past dawn. Leaked video showed players from both sides including England captain Joe Root, Anderson and Australians Nathan Lyon, Alex Carey and Travis Head being told to disperse by Tasmanian police following a noise complaint.
Wellington, 2025
Harry Brook almost lost the white-ball captaincy after another late-night visit to a drinking hole in New Zealand. Brook later admitted being struck by a bouncer after over-indulging. He was fined the maximum amount by the ECB and came close to being axed as skipper. Jacob Bethell was also out and the pair were reprimanded by the Cricket Regulator. No further action was taken against Josh Tongue, who was also present but was not in the matchday squad.
Noosa, 2025
Video emerged of a worse-for-wear Duckett interacting with an England fan on the street during the mid-Ashes break at an Australian beach resort. Duckett, disorientated and slurring his words, was memorably told to ‘get an Uber to the nets’. England conducted a review into the Noosa trip, amid reports it represented ‘a glorified stag do’, but captain Stokes gave an impassioned press conference in Melbourne calling for empathy for his team-mate.
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