Former England captain Nasser Hussain discussed the fallout from Ben Stokes’ and Gus Atkinson’s breaking of a team curfew following the first Test win over New Zealand at Lord’s, saying how he’d have backed Stokes more if he were in the ECB’s shoes…
It’s not easy, because it’s a difficult balance to strike, but I would have backed my captain a little bit more, if I’m perfectly honest.
Obviously they were cross, they were frustrated, angered, but personally I would have backed my captain.
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England head coach Brendon McCullum admits he is ‘worried’ for Ben Stokes, following an incident at a Chelsea nightclub which saw the Test captain break a midnight curfew.
In whatever role I was in – whether it be coach, director of cricket – that captain has been there for us for a very long time.
He’s been through some really difficult times, he’s been through a difficult Ashes series, he’s been through a facial injury.
I’m not condoning anything he’s done in any way. I said at the top of the show today it was unacceptable, breaking your own curfew.
But that captain has shown a lot of emotional intelligence with a lot of people in that team who have, at times, messed up either off the field or on the field. Ben Stokes has been the first one to put his arm around people in that team.
I just think with what Ben has done for this cricket team over time, I would have liked someone just to go, ‘you know what, he’s got it wrong, there’s an investigation going on, but he is my captain’.
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England managing director Rob Key gives his view on Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson following the breaking of a midnight curfew on Sunday.
Right now, as we speak, if you’re asking me who is England captain, Joe Root or Stokes? Stokes is my England captain. Unless I hear differently, he’s still my England captain.
This last week, some of the stuff I’ve heard is just nonsense.
Firstly, curfews are a nonsense. You’ve lost the team if you’ve got to have a curfew.
Secondly, a complete ban on alcohol? What happened to the days where you just knew when was the time to have a drink, and when wasn’t? Day one of a Test match is not the time; day four or five, when you’ve just won the Test match – and you’ve been through so much strain for five months – is the perfect time to have a drink, especially if you’re not playing for 10 days.
There’s been a lot of nonsense. You lose the plot in weeks like this. Just keep it very simple.
Is Stokes still your best captain? Yes, he’s one of the best captains I’ve seen lead this England side.
Does he get in the side still? A little bit debatable recently, but as we see with the balance of the side for this Test [at The Oval], if you don’t have Stokes, it becomes a bit complicated.
And the third, and the most important thing, does Ben Stokes still want to do the job?
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Nasser Hussain insists the decision on whether Ben Stokes should remain as England captain ultimately has to be made by the player himself.
This job, the captaincy, drains you more than anything else in cricket. Has he still got the energy to do it?
It smacks you between the eyes when you know that you cannot do the England captaincy any more. You’ve got no energy.
It happened to me, it happened to [Michael] Atherton, it happened to [Michael] Vaughan, it happened to [Andrew] Strauss, and eventually it’ll happen to Stokes.
Get rid of the nonsense, talk crystal clear conversations, and pose the questions I’ve just asked.
If you’re asking me, who would I have as captain at Trent Bridge for the next Test match? I would have Stokes.
England vs New Zealand – results and schedule
All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports
First Test (Lord’s) – England won by 115 runsSecond Test (The Kia Oval) – June 17-21 (11am)Third Test (Trent Bridge) – June 25-29 (11am)
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