{"id":185022,"date":"2026-06-24T07:21:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T12:51:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=185022"},"modified":"2026-06-24T07:21:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T12:51:20","slug":"england-captain-stokes-insists-he-is-man-enough-to-apologise-after-curfew-breach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=185022","title":{"rendered":"England captain Stokes insists he is \u2018man enough\u2019 to apologise after curfew breach"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"content-body-71141749\">Returning captain Ben Stokes insisted he had been \u201cman enough\u201d to apologise to his England team-mates after missing the last Test for breaching a curfew.<\/p>\n<p>Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were dropped from the second Test against New Zealand after breaking a midnight curfew in an incident at a London nightclub celebrating England\u2019s first win in the series opener at Lord\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>In their absence, an England team led by stand-in captain Joe Root and showing five changes- including three debutants- suffered a 253-run thrashing at the Oval as New Zealand levelled the series at 1-1 heading into the Nottingham finale at Trent Bridge starting on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>The curfew breach came when it seemed England were moving on from the drinking controversies that marred its 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia.<\/p>\n<p>But English cricket chiefs have now decided no further action is needed against Stokes and Atkinson, both of whom are back in the side.<\/p>\n<p>Stokes, in his first public comment since he was omitted from the second Test, told reporters at a pre-match press conference at Trent Bridge on Wednesday that he had apologised to his teammates.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was one of the first things I had to do as a captain. You look at the situation, and it affects more than just myself. It affects a lot of people, it affected Joe (Root), the squad, the people outside the playing environment. It no doubt had an effect on lads who were making their debut.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>ALSO READ:<\/b><b><a href=\"https:\/\/sportstar.thehindu.com\/cricket\/brendon-mccullum-backs-ben-stokes-third-test-new-zealand\/article71140496.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Brendon McCullum backs Ben Stokes to answer critics with series-clinching display<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>The 35-year-old all-rounder added that it had been important \u201cto take responsibility\u201d for his actions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou need to be big enough and man enough to take that upon your shoulders, and look everyone who it has affected in the eye and apologise,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is something that I did.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Stokes, who made 95 for county side Durham last week, said that his attention had turned to guiding England to a series win.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRight now my focus is on the team, on the series- we\u2019re 1-1 in a three-match series,\u201d he said. \u201cThis week is massive for this team regardless of what\u2019s gone on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"publish-time\" id=\"end-of-article\">Published on Jun 24, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/sportstar.thehindu.com\/cricket\/ben-stokes-eng-vs-nz-third-test-england-captain-nightclub-incident\/article71141749.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Returning captain Ben Stokes insisted he had been \u201cman enough\u201d to apologise to his England team-mates after missing the last Test for breaching a curfew. Stokes and fast bowler Gus&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":185023,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-185022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-23T131401Z_162362782_UP1EM6N10RCV1_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL-PREVIEW.JPG","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":179095,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=179095","url_meta":{"origin":185022,"position":0},"title":"Vaughan: Stokes\u2019 curfew breach not a sackable offence","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Michael Vaughan has backed Ben Stokes to retain the England captaincy despite being investigated for breaking the team\u2019s curfew. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced it was looking into Stokes\u2019 involvement in a nightclub incident on Monday morning following England\u2019s win in the first Test against New Zealand\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-07T121740Z_1721872487_UP1EM670Y5EEI_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-07T121740Z_1721872487_UP1EM670Y5EEI_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-07T121740Z_1721872487_UP1EM670Y5EEI_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-07T121740Z_1721872487_UP1EM670Y5EEI_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-07T121740Z_1721872487_UP1EM670Y5EEI_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":183564,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=183564","url_meta":{"origin":185022,"position":1},"title":"Stokes to return as England captain for 3rd New Zealand Test &#8211; McCullum","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"en Stokes will return as England captain for next week\u2019s third and deciding Test against New Zealand in Nottingham, England head coach Brendon McCullum announced Sunday. Stokes was stood down from England\u2019s 253-run defeat by New Zealand in the second Test at the Oval for breaching a team curfew following\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":178281,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=178281","url_meta":{"origin":185022,"position":2},"title":"ECB to investigate Stokes, Atkinson over nightclub incident","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"England Test captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson are under investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over an \u201cundisclosed\u201d incident at a night club in the early hours after its first Test win over New Zealand. \u201cThe ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2226310078.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2226310078.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2226310078.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2226310078.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2226310078.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":178565,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=178565","url_meta":{"origin":185022,"position":3},"title":"Gower says Stokes\u2019 England captaincy in severe doubt after nightclub incident","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 9, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Former England captain David Gower said on Tuesday that he fears Ben Stokes\u2019 reign as Test skipper may already be in \u201cthe past tense\u201d after the all-rounder\u2019s involvement in a nightclub incident with a Saracens rugby player. Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson are facing a probe by the England and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/HSP187381.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/HSP187381.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/HSP187381.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/HSP187381.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/HSP187381.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":184889,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=184889","url_meta":{"origin":185022,"position":4},"title":"McCullum Backs Stokes to Silence Critics as England Eyes Series Win vs New Zealand","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"England head coach Brendon McCullum has urged Ben Stokes to use the fallout from his curfew breach as motivation to inspire England to a series-clinching win in the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, starting Thursday. Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were dropped for the second Test\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_84KJ4WX.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_84KJ4WX.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_84KJ4WX.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_84KJ4WX.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_84KJ4WX.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":182235,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=182235","url_meta":{"origin":185022,"position":5},"title":"ENG vs NZ: Ben Stokes to play County Championship for Durham in England absence","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Ben Stokes will play for Durham against Northamptonshire in the County Championship as he sits out of England\u2019s ongoing second Test against New Zealand after being involved in an incident in a nightclub. Full-time Test captain Stokes and Gus Atkinson were dropped from the England playing XI, with Joe Root\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Britain_England_New_Zealand_Cricket_65345.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Britain_England_New_Zealand_Cricket_65345.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Britain_England_New_Zealand_Cricket_65345.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Britain_England_New_Zealand_Cricket_65345.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Britain_England_New_Zealand_Cricket_65345.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgnRh4-M8e","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185022","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=185022"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185022\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/185023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=185022"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=185022"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=185022"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}