2 hours ago Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson breached "contractual obligations" but were blameless for "violent conduct" successful a London nightclub, according to an investigation.
Captain Stokes and gait bowler Atkinson were made unavailable for England's 2nd Test decision by New Zealand pending an enquiry into events that unfolded erstwhile they were retired celebrating triumph successful the archetypal Test 2 weeks ago.
They breached the team's midnight curfew and were contiguous erstwhile a subordinate of information unit was struck by a Saracens rugby player.
A disciplinary proceeding by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recovered Stokes and Atkinson to person "breached circumstantial contractual obligations that necessitate England players to astatine each times support the highest standards of behaviour and enactment successful the champion interests of England cricket".
Both men person been fixed a written a warning, with nary further enactment added to their removal from the 2nd Test. They person been named successful the squad for the deciding Test astatine Trent Bridge, starting connected Thursday, with Stokes restored arsenic captain.
A abstracted enquiry by the Cricket Regulator has recovered that Stokes and Atkinson person nary further lawsuit to answer.
The subordinate of England's information unit was near bloodied and successful request of aesculapian attraction erstwhile helium was struck by Saracens subordinate Totoa Avuaa. The ECB connection said Avuaa attacked some Atkinson and the information guard.
"No blasted should beryllium attached to the players for convulsive behaviour astatine the nightclub," said the ECB.
"Stokes was not progressive successful the altercation and did not witnesser either incident.
"The grounds the ECB has seen demonstrates that Atkinson was the unfortunate of unprovoked attacks and did not retaliate connected either occasion."
More to follow.
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