English captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson have been cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation into the nightclub incident that followed their team’s win over New Zealand earlier this month. The pair have already received written warnings from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaching the team curfew and have been left out of the second Test against New Zealand. However, both players are expected to return for the decisive third Test of the series, which starts on Thursday at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. On Monday, cricket’s independent regulatory body confirmed that no disciplinary action would be taken against either player after it completed its review of the case. The controversy arose from events following England’s win in the first Test, when Stokes and Atkinson stayed out past the midnight curfew and visited a London nightclub. During the same evening, a team security officer was allegedly punched by a rugby player from Premiership club Saracens. Cricket’s regulator has launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and said it examined a range of evidence before reaching a conclusion. “Having carefully reviewed all currently available information, the Cricket Regulator has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish that any breach of regulations has occurred,” the body said in a statement. According to the regulator, investigators conducted “multiple lines of inquiry to gather and assess evidence” before deciding that the case required no further action. The episode reignited a debate about the culture within the England men’s national team, particularly following criticism following the team’s failed Ashes tour of Australia, where reports of excessive drinking and unprofessional behavior attracted widespread attention. With the off-field issue now resolved, attention will quickly return to cricket. England and New Zealand head into the third and final Test with the series level at 1-1, setting up a decider at Trent Bridge.
