Ben Stokes: England Test captain losing role over nightclub incident would be ‘cheating’ – Michael Vaughan

Former captain Joe Root stood in for Stokes this week, accepting the job on a “game-by-game” basis.

Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson broke the team’s midnight curfew the night after the first Test win and a member of England’s security staff was present when the Saracens rugby player was hit.

What followed was the first to speak.

Asked if Stokes would return as a player, he said: “I don’t see why not” – but he turned down repeated opportunities to back him as captain.

Speaking on Monday, McCullum said he was “concerned” about his captaincy, but would not be drawn again on whether he would lead the team again.

Two investigations, one by the ECB and another by the regulator of cricket, are ongoing.

“I think it’s worrying for English cricket – the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum relationship, the Ben Stokes-Rob Key relationship,” Vaughan said.

“After what we saw at the press conference, I would doubt that those relationships can be put back together.”

Stokes, McCullum and Key, who have had a close relationship since taking over England’s Test cricket in 2022, were all kept in their jobs despite England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat this winter.

Stokes said reports of a rift between him and McCullum were exaggerated in Australia. On Monday, McCallum denied that their relationship was strained.

Apart from a brief Instagram post wishing his teammates well in the second Test, Stokes has not spoken publicly since the incident.

Ryan Campbell, his county coach in Durham, said he was in “good spirits” and the all-rounder could play for them on Friday.