Ben Stokes makes first public comments since England axe after nightclub fight
Ben Stokes posted an 11-word message on his social media in his first public comments since being dropped by England.
Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson are the subject of an investigation after they became embroiled in an incident at a Chelsea nightclub earlier this month.
The pair broke strict curfew rules before getting into a ruckus with Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa.
An England and Wales Cricket Board bodyguard was assaulted by Auvaa in the melee.
The England captain has now shown support to his teammates ahead of their Second Test against New Zealand at the Oval on Wednesday, a match he will not play in having been banned by the ECB.
What did Stokes post on his social media page?
Stokes will not be available for selection but showed his captain’s instincts in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
Alongside a post listing the names of the players featuring in the second Test, he wrote: “Go well this week men. Debutants do what you been doing.”
Joe Root has been handed skipper duties in Stokes’ absence.
The former captain, who stepped down from the role in 2022, admits he has been checking in on Stokes throughout the controversy.
“I’ve had a couple of conversations with Ben. We’re close friends and they should stay as privileged conversations between me and him,” Root said.
“I’m sure he has the respect of everyone in our dressing room. He’s been a phenomenal leader.
“We’ve achieved some wonderful things and won a hell of a lot of Test matches. He’s a talismanic player and a great friend to a number of the guys. There’s a huge amount of respect from everyone.
“There have been a few occasions as a team when we’ve let ourselves down. We have to learn from those mistakes and understand we shouldn’t be putting ourselves in those situations.
“But I don’t think it’s a fair reflection. We’re incredibly professional and work extremely hard.
“You should be able to celebrate wins but doing it at the right time is important.”
Stokes’ future as England captain remains unclear with the investigation ongoing.
Both Rob Key and head coach Brendon McCullum have been quizzed on the next course of action for the 35-year-old but have been unable to add any further context.
The same applies for Root, who has also been grilled by reporters on Stokes’ future.
The veteran could yet captain the side for next week’s Third Test at Trent Bridge while Stokes is expected to return to County Cricket action for Durham this weekend.
Could Root return to full-time captian duties?
And Root has not entirely ruled out the idea of taking the captaincy on a full-time basis once more.
He said: “I never thought I’d be sat here again talking to you guys as a captain. I’m very excited by the opportunity of leading this group.
“I’m in a very different place to when I finished. It is going to be a really fun week. I’ve really enjoyed the last couple of days working with Baz.
“That is one thing I was slightly envious of — that opportunity to work with someone like Baz. It’s been really cool over the last couple of days.”
He continued: “The last two years of my captaincy were in COVID, which took quite a big toll.
“I ended up being so consumed with everything that I wasn’t the person I wanted to be.
“These four years under Ben and Baz have been the most exciting part of my career. Some guys find it difficult to come back as a senior player having captained before but I have loved that role.
“I’m a different player and have a different way of looking at the game to the last time I captained.”
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