Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson nightclub controversy. ECB gives final verdict |: Cricket News:
England captain: Ben Stokes: and fast bowler Gus Atkinson is no longer guilty after the investigation of the nightclub incident that happened after their team’s victory against New Zealand earlier this month. The pair have already been given written warnings by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaching the team’s curfew and have been left out of the second Test against New Zealand. However, both players are expected to return for the series-deciding third Test, which starts on Thursday at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. On Monday, the independent Cricket Regulator confirmed that no disciplinary action will be taken against any player after completing a review of the matter. The controversy stems from events following England’s victory in the opening Test, when Stokes and Atkinson stayed outside the team’s midnight curfew and visited a London nightclub. During the same night, a team security officer was reportedly beaten by a rugby player from Premiership club Saracens. The Cricket Regulator has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and said it was examining various pieces of evidence before reaching its conclusion. “Having carefully reviewed all currently available information, the Cricket Regulator has decided that there is insufficient evidence to establish that any regulatory breach has occurred,” the body said in a statement. According to the regulator, investigators are continuing “multiple lines of inquiry to gather and assess evidence” before deciding that the case does not require further action. The episode reignited the debate about the culture within the England men’s setup, particularly after the criticism that followed the team’s unsuccessful Ashes tour of Australia, where reports of excessive drinking and unprofessional behavior attracted widespread attention. As the off-field issue is resolved, attention can easily shift back to cricket. England and New Zealand head into the third and final Test with the series level at 1-1, setting up a decisive showdown at Trent Bridge.
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