England v New Zealand Test Series - June 2026

[Banana]

He's captain and sets the tempo for the rest of the squad. WTF was he doing out when it was quite clear what the regs were. Also double WTF was security doing with himself instead of reigning him in. It seems England cricketers don't seem to have grasped that drinking cultures are a thing of the past.

Not in cricket. That much is obvious.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Not in cricket. That much is obvious.

Or rugby.

 

[rebus]

Not in cricket. That much is obvious.

Given he had a trial eight years ago you'd think he'd get into his noggin that staying out late isn't really the done thing for an elite sportsman. Did we ever see a snap of Usian Bolt with a kebab in his hand at the witching hour?

 

[Banana]

Or rugby.

Give them a chance, they've just got over recreational drugs.

 

[aawharris]

• Stokes and Atkinson breached the team’s new midnight curfew and were embroiled in a melee with a Saracens academy player
• The rugby player is understood to have thrown a punch at Atkinson, but connected with an ECB security guard supervising the players
• The security guard was left requiring stitches, but Stokes and Atkinson were not injured
• It is unclear if further punches were thrown in the melee that followed
• ECB sources are adamant the cricketers were “not the aggressors”
• Police were not involved in the incident, which took place at a nightclub in Chelsea

But but but we are always told that Rugby players are gentle giants

 

[rebus]

Give them a chance, they've just got over recreational drugs.

One of the greatest private eye covers ever.

 

[Banana]

View attachment 66457
One of the greatest private eye covers ever.

I think the current England coach is in that pic....

 

[Freebee]

Stating the obvious but apparently not that obvious to Stokes,the captain is supposed to lead by example and didn't do what nearly everyone else in the team did and abide by the rules given to them.

I'd be surprised if wasn't he part of the leadership group that set the curfew or was at least part of the conversation.It's irrelevant who started the trouble,it wouldn't have happened if he and Atkinson had gone back with the rest.

I'd drop them both and put Root back in charge temporarily until they can appoint someone else but honestly if a curfew has to be forced on a team and they have to be told how to behave,then who is worthy of the position.

 

[Untouchable]

View: https://x.com/espncricinfo/status/2064335612925349987?s=46&t=SQP7mje7Pimu8X-ugPnQnQ

 

[Gee Bee]

• Stokes and Atkinson breached the team’s new midnight curfew and were embroiled in a melee with a Saracens academy player
• The rugby player is understood to have thrown a punch at Atkinson, but connected with an ECB security guard supervising the players
• The security guard was left requiring stitches, but Stokes and Atkinson were not injured
• It is unclear if further punches were thrown in the melee that followed
• ECB sources are adamant the cricketers were “not the aggressors”
• Police were not involved in the incident, which took place at a nightclub in Chelsea

Chelsea nightclub, maybe raffles, where 35yo would be a youngster!! Think some are thinking that all nightclubs are for kids only

 

[Banana]

Chelsea nightclub, maybe raffles, where 35yo would be a youngster!! Think some are thinking that all nightclubs are for kids only

It wasn't Raffles. It's the old 151 club. But indeed. It's not Broadway Boulevard

 

[Jezybee]

Or rugby.

Used to be the Redback in Acton for the Wasps c. 2010 vintage. This new generation of rugby players have certainly gone up in the world starting fights on the King’s Road.

 

[HMDBFC]

Stating the obvious but apparently not that obvious to Stokes,the captain is supposed to lead by example and didn't do what nearly everyone else in the team did and abide by the rules given to them.

I'd be surprised if wasn't he part of the leadership group that set the curfew or was at least part of the conversation.It's irrelevant who started the trouble,it wouldn't have happened if he and Atkinson had gone back with the rest.

I'd drop them both and put Root back in charge temporarily until they can appoint someone else but honestly if a curfew has to be forced on a team and they have to be told how to behave,then who is worthy of the position.

This is it. I don't think anybody would want to deny the team members a chance to celebrate a good win (if they feel it necessary) but there is a time and place for that. To once again get involved in such a situation which to any professional sportsman, let alone one that has already got serious history, is ridiculously stupid. What is the matter with these people..

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

If you've given up on going out at 35 years of age then you must a complete bore by my reckoning

Had the best time of my life at that age.

Complete bores with children and other priorities

 

[Untouchable]

View: https://x.com/espncricinfo/status/2064427576165359900?s=61&t=EJGqSVScFRoPzRCeoUcI_w

 

[Freebee]

View: https://x.com/espncricinfo/status/2064427576165359900?s=61&t=EJGqSVScFRoPzRCeoUcI_w

It's up to the ECB to decide his future not him

 

[Untouchable]

It's up to the ECB to decide his future not him

Not much the ECB could do if he quits the captaincy and retires.

 

[Freebee]

Not much the ECB could do if he quits the captaincy and retires.

If anything the ECB should be taking away his captaincy,he shouldn't have a say in the matter.If he falls on his sword that's fine.

We talk enough on here about football clubs and their dodgy player culture and how player power is rife.That England cricket dressing room must be the same and if a leader isn't leading and trying to change that then get one in who does.

 

[Banana]

Not much the ECB could do if he quits the captaincy and retires.

and,, er, joins the IPL

 

[mundee4england]

Seeing the video doing the rounds on SM that is apparently of the incident, I suspect his England days are done and he may have bigger concerns!

 

[Banana]

Seeing the video doing the rounds on SM that is apparently of the incident, I suspect his England days are done and he may have bigger concerns!

No good without a link!

 

[mundee4england]

No good without a link!

Actually having looked again I think it was one of his previous fights!

 

[Untouchable]

Seeing the video doing the rounds on SM that is apparently of the incident, I suspect his England days are done and he may have bigger concerns!

No good without a link!

Unless I’ve missed something, the only video I’ve seen is dickheads re-posting the 2017 Bristol video for clicks.

 

[mundee4england]

Unless I’ve missed something, the only video I’ve seen is dickheads re-posting the 2017 Bristol video for clicks.

Yeah it was that one, I’m just gullible! Hadn’t seen it before… pretty savage!

 

[Banana]

Unless I’ve missed something, the only video I’ve seen is dickheads re-posting the 2017 Bristol video for clicks.

Which is a massive surprise given the prevalence of mobile phones these days

 

[ianbees1]

Can’t see the problem here. When Rodney Marsh sank 52 #cans on a flight from Australia to England, they declared him a national hero and proposed him for a knighthood.

 

[ppobee]

Assuming Stokes and Atkinson miss the next test or two, at least, there are some selection headaches coming. They like having five bowlers. But is there someone who can bowl say 25 overs in a match who they think can bat at 7? Rehan Ahmed perhaps, and if so Bashir gets dropped. Archer for Atkinson, but that means Robinson at 8, which is surely too high.

Or is there someone who can bat at 6 and bowl a bit? There's been a lot of talk about Ben Kelly way at Glamorgan, batting off spinner - perhaps he plays at 7 and no Rehan?

 

[TW3Bee]

Can’t see the problem here. When Rodney Marsh sank 52 #cans on a flight from Australia to England, they declared him a national hero and proposed him for a knighthood.

That was David Boon, who went on to be a Match Referee.

 

[aawharris]

View: https://x.com/espncricinfo/status/2064335612925349987?s=46&t=SQP7mje7Pimu8X-ugPnQnQ

Quelle surprise...

 

[aawharris]

Seeing the video doing the rounds on SM that is apparently of the incident, I suspect his England days are done and he may have bigger concerns!

What have you seen?

 

[German Bee]

What have you seen?

only the old video in Bristol.

 

[aawharris]

only the old video in Bristol.

Yeah, looks like the one going round is the one from 2018 - wouldnt be like social media to try to peddle it as now though, would it...

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Yeah, looks like the one going round is the one from 2018 - wouldnt be like social media to try to peddle it as now though, would it...

Didn't think Stokes was even involved in this altercation, thought it was Atkinson and the rugby fella.

 

[Untouchable]

View: https://x.com/espncricinfo/status/2064709113934950707?s=46&t=SQP7mje7Pimu8X-ugPnQnQ

 

[Untouchable]

Joe Root to captain England in the second test.

 

[Untouchable]

 

[Cham]

why not Harry Brook who is VC.. no problem with Root though

 

[Jam Jar]

why not Harry Brook who is VC.. no problem with Root though

I guess with his own indescretion still fresh in the memory they have gone with a safe pair of hands. Long term a bigger issue i'd be suprised if Stokes came back

 

[zuko]

why not Harry Brook who is VC.. no problem with Root though

Optics. You can't drop someone for a nightclub altercation and replace them with someone else who had their own nightclub altercation less than a year ago. Joe Root is a better pick because his nightclub altercation was over 10 years ago. Wait, I'm seeing a pattern here…

 

[Untouchable]

I guess with his own indescretion still fresh in the memory they have gone with a safe pair of hands. Long term a bigger issue i'd be suprised if Stokes came back

Maybe they didn’t want to put too much pressure on him on top of being ODI and T20 captain.

 

[Judio1999]

Jordan Cox showing good form this season for Essex to justify the pick ?

 

[ppobee]

Jordan Cox showing good form this season for Essex to justify the pick ?

Cricinfo suggests his last FC game was in August 25! He has been next cab off the rank for a while, though I can't see how he fits into an XI here unless they play 7 batsmen including Smith. Rehab Ahmed is the nearest thing to an all rounder, but 7 at test level?

Presumably Baker for Atkinson.

 

[ianbees1]

That was David Boon, who went on to be a Match Referee.

Ah yes of course it was. I knew it was a little chunky bloke with a tache.

 

[super J]

Assuming Stokes and Atkinson miss the next test or two, at least, there are some selection headaches coming. They like having five bowlers. But is there someone who can bowl say 25 overs in a match who they think can bat at 7? Rehan Ahmed perhaps, and if so Bashir gets dropped. Archer for Atkinson, but that means Robinson at 8, which is surely too high.

Or is there someone who can bat at 6 and bowl a bit? There's been a lot of talk about Ben Kelly way at Glamorgan, batting off spinner - perhaps he plays at 7 and no Rehan?

Sam Curran probably the most like for like replacement for Stokes, though hasn't played test cricket for a few years now.

Cox instead of Dan Lawrence is a surprise given the latter's form and that the Oval is home ground.

Considering Bashir didn't bowl a ball at Lords then we might consider four quicks with Archer and Baker coming in.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

It's usually an Overton but didn't he retire from test cricket?

 

[rebus]

Optics. You can't drop someone for a nightclub altercation and replace them with someone else who had their own nightclub altercation less than a year ago. Joe Root is a better pick because his nightclub altercation was over 10 years ago. Wait, I'm seeing a pattern here…

This country.

 

[davido_i]

Jordan Coy has hardly played for Essex. I think due to IPL duty. Definitely deserves a chance.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I thought one of the Rew's was reserve.

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

I thought one of the Rew's was reserve.

Kanga?

 

[Ashford Bees]

Managed to get hold of tickets for day 4 at the oval. Let’s hope for a full day this time and not over quickly like the lords test !!