Stokes refuses to answer two questions in nightclub grilling

England Test captain Ben Stokes refused to answer two questions as he spoke publicly for the first time since his latest nightclub drama.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced this week that an internal investigation found Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson breached their contracts after the first match of the ongoing three-Test series against New Zealand.

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The ECB cleared Stokes and Atkinson of “violent conduct” but sent them written warnings for being out in the early hours of June 8, when a member of England’s security staff was left bloodied by rugby player Totoa Auvaa.

As Stokes addressed media on Thursday (AEST), the captain was asked if he knew the curfew was in place.

He dodged the question like a Mitchell Starc bouncer.

“The process of this whole disciplinary thing has been done from two different angles, and [we know] the outcome of that. That’s all been done,” Stokes said.

“Me and Gus – we’re back here playing cricket, I’m captaining this week, he’s back in the team as a player, and we’re going to go out there and try to win this game.”

Asked if he understood the importance of a curfew, Stokes replied with a wry smile: “Just answered that.”

The other question the superstar all-rounder refused to answer was about captaincy.

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“Did you fear you might lose the captaincy, and did you consider stepping down?” one journalist asked.

Stokes replied: “There’s been a lot of speculation flying around over the last couple of weeks.

“The process is done, we’re finished, me and Gus are back here now doing what we do and doing what we love, and we’re ready to focus on winning this game.”

Stokes addressed rumours of a rift between himself and coach Brendon McCullum.

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“There’s been a big misconception around myself and Brendon,” the 35-year-old said.

“We have a professional relationship as head coach and captain, but away from that, we genuinely are very good mates. We’ve built a strong rapport, and we’ve been through some testing times as well as great times.

“Do we agree on everything? Absolutely not. Do we have discussions around things? Absolutely. Those discussions are what allow both of us to reach a place where we can make a good decision.

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“Not agreeing on everything shouldn’t be seen as a divide between us. You are allowed to have discussions and disagreements; you need to get those things out there to make the right call.

“Our relationship goes way beyond him being coach and me being captain.”

He was asked if he felt this incident had brought himself and McCullum closer.

“In the future, we might look back on this and realise it brought us closer together,” Stokes said, before again trying to hose down talk of a rift.

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“This ‘rift’ or drifting apart’ that people are speculating about simply hasn’t happened.”

The nightclub drama involving Stokes and Atkinson follows England’s boozy Ashes tour in Australia last summer.

The team copped widespread criticism for heading to Noosa for a boozy getaway after going 2-0 down in the series at the Gabba.

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At the tail end of the tour, it came to light via a report in the UK Telegraph that Harry Brook had been involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer just hours before captaining England in a one-dayer against New Zealand in Wellington.

Stokes said he addressed the team about his recent nightclub controversy after returning to the squad this week.

“My priority as captain was letting the lads know that I am back properly,” Stokes said.

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“I needed to acknowledge a few things to the team, and the team only, and I feel I voiced those well. I’ve let them know exactly where my concentration is, and everyone in that dressing room is fully aware of our responsibility this week.”

England and New Zealand will face off in a third and deciding Test at Trent Bridge from Thursday night (AEST).

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