Breath of relief sweeps through the England cricket camp as stars Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson emerge from a disciplinary storm with their reputations intact – just about! The dynamic duo had been in the dock, facing allegations of violent conduct following an ugly incident at a London nightclub two weeks ago. But in a verdict that will come as a huge relief to fans and team-mates alike, the ECB has ruled out any blame for Stokes and Atkinson.
The drama unfolded after the players breached their own curfew rules by celebrating England's crushing first Test victory over New Zealand into the early hours of the morning. With both men subsequently withdrawn from the second Test as an inquiry got underway, the tension mounted – but it now appears that neither was at fault in the ensuing scuffle.
The evidence is clear: Atkinson was a victim of unprovoked attacks by Saracens rugby player Totoa Avuaa, who left one security guard bloodied and in need of medical attention. Meanwhile, Stokes was nowhere near the altercation – nor did he witness it. And while both players will receive a written warning for their part in breaching England's strict conduct rules, that appears to be the only sanction they'll face.
Crucially, though, both men have now been cleared of any wrongdoing by the Cricket Regulator and are free to pick up where they left off – with Stokes reinstated as captain for this week's decisive Test at Trent Bridge. Will it prove a winning move? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: Stokes and Atkinson are ready to put this drama behind them and get on with the business of leading England to victory.
England's squad has been announced in full ahead of the crucial showdown against New Zealand – and both Stokes and Atkinson have their places confirmed. The momentum is back, then, as these two cricket stars look to bounce back from a very public scrape and lead their team to a triumphant finish at Trent Bridge.