The independent Cricket Regulator has taken no motion against Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson over the nightclub incident which led to them missing last week’s Test against Latest Zealand, finding “insufficient evidence” against the pair.
The ruling, which effectively clears the England captain and his team-mate, comes after the duo were recalled for Thursday’s Rothesay Series decider against Latest Zealand at Trent Bridge.
A parallel investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board also absolved Stokes and Atkinson of any wrongdoing in an altercation involving Saracens rugby union player Totoa Auvaa.
Nonetheless, they were issued with written conduct warnings for contravening “specific contractual obligations”.
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Investigation
The regulator, which doesn’t cover team protocols in its remit, said in an announcement: “The Cricket Regulator’s role is to find out whether any participant or player has breached any applicable ECB Cricket Regulations.
“The investigation followed multiple lines of enquiry to assemble and assess evidence in relation to the events in query.
“Having fastidiously reviewed all currently available information, the Cricket Regulator has determined that there’s insufficient evidence to determine that any regulatory breach occurred.
“Accordingly, no further motion shall be taken against either player.
“The Cricket Regulator would really like to thank all those involved for his or her cooperation throughout the investigation.”
PICTURES: Robbie Stephenson/PA
Interviewed
Stokes and Atkinson were each interviewed by the regulator, which is headed up by director Chris Haward, a former national chief constable lead for serious and organised crime.
They subsequently returned to county cricket, Stokes with Durham and Atkinson with Surrey, before being withdrawn by the ECB ahead of their Test recalls.
They’re as a consequence of join the squad in Nottingham on Monday before a training session at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
Stokes is as a consequence of hold his captain’s press conference on Wednesday, his first public words on the matter barring a brief Instagram post wishing his team well within the Oval Test they went on to lose by 253 runs.
The ECB probe into the late-night trip to the Rex Rooms in Chelsea determined that Atkinson had been subject to 2 “unprovoked attacks” that he didn’t retaliate to.
Stokes, meanwhile, was found to not be present on the time.
Shambles
The query of whether or not the pair knew they were in breach of a team curfew continues to linger.
Rob Key, the ECB’s managing director of men’s cricket, has said the relevant information was shared with the Team England Player Partnership, but head coach Brendon McCullum accepted on Sunday a component of “ambiguity” can have existed.
Speaking on his For the Love of Cricket podcast, former England bowler Stuart Broad said: “It seems like lots of hullabaloo for ‘let’s just crack on’.
“Chaos…shambles…it cost England a Test match, for what? I’m not overly sure.”
READ MORE: Ben Stokes back as England captain as ‘no blame attached’ for nightclub scuffle
