'Not a sackable offence' - Atherton, Hussain back Stokes over England future

Former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain both believe Ben Stokes' breach of team protocols is not a sackable offence, although admit 'he has a decision' to make over his future.

Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson both breached a midnight curfew as they celebrated Sunday's victory over New Zealand, where the pair were involved in a nightclub incident involving a Saracens rugby player.

Both players were dropped from the squad for next week's second Test against New Zealand - live from June 17 on Sky Sports - and are under investigation, just months after England's professionalism and drinking culture was questioned during their Ashes tour.

Ben Stokes considering his future after nightclub incident

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Joe Root will lead the side on an interim basis ahead of Harry Brook, who has fined and warned over his future conduct after an altercation with a bouncer in New Zealand late last year, with both Atherton and Hussain hoping this isn't the end of Stokes in an England shirt.

"Ben Stokes has been there for England a lot," Hussain told the Sky Sports Cricket podcast. "He's been there as a captain, he's been there as a player at their finest moments - 50 over World Cups, T20 World Cups.

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"He's been a warrior for England and he got it wrong this time - he got it horribly wrong. I don't think that is a sackable offence. Ben will be in a dark place at the moment.

"I just hope Ben doesn't think 'I've let so many people down that I'm going to retire. I'm going to make an emotional decision and retire', because I think that would be a really sad way [to end] for one of England's greats.

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Stokes considering future after incident

"One of England's greats should not go out like that. I think he deserves better. I do feel a bit sad if this was the last we saw of Ben Stokes - I really hope it's not."

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Stokes has been Test captain since April 2022 and is now understood to be considering his future, regardless of any conclusion reached by the ECB investigation, although has yet to comment publicly on his decision.

"This has become a story because of the context of what happened in the Ashes and because of the narrative around this England team and the need for a bit more discipline off the field," Atherton explained. "Staying out late after a victory is neither a sacking offence nor a resignation offence.

"However, I do think watching Ben Stokes that there is an added context to it and that is the fact that he's four years into his captaincy. I was in the press conferences [ahead of New Zealand Test], I watched him very closely, and he did look to me like a man who was four years into the job.

"For the captain's prior to Stokes in recent times, four years has been about the limit. I think no matter who you are, it's a job that takes its toll. I did have a kind of instinct before that game that he was just looking like a man who'd been in the job four years.

"While I don't think it's a resignation or a sacking offence at all, for Ben Stokes, the key thing is his state of mind four years into the job. That has been part of the conversation, no doubt. How is he feeling? What is he feeling? What decisions are to be made?

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"He's got decisions to make and we still don't know how he's feeling about his captaincy and about the playing career."

There is uncertainty now over whether Stokes can continue in the office of captain, should he want to, although Hussain hopes the Durham all-rounder gets to call time on his England career on his terms.