Sawt Falasteen - England cricket chief ponders booze ban after Stokes's nightclub incident

Stokes will miss next week's second Test against New Zealand at the Oval after he and team-mate Gus Atkinson were dropped for breaking a curfew following England's win in the series opener at Lord's. Their night out ended in a confrontation featuring Saracens rugby union player Totoa Auvaa.

The incident remains subject to investigation by both the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the independent Cricket Regulator as well as by Saracens.

Stokes has made no comment amid speculation the 35-year-old might voluntarily resign as captain or even quit international cricket.

But Key, the managing director of men's cricket at the ECB, did not rule out stripping Stokes of leadership duties as he addressed the issue in public for the first time during an Oval press conference on Thursday.

"Can Ben captain (England) again?," said Key. "I think we've just got to let that play out. The decision, as I look forward, is about what's best for the team and what's best for Ben as well.

"I haven't got an answer for that at the moment, to be honest."

"Time is probably the best thing for all of us," added Key, a former England batsman.

"Nobody wants to make any rash decisions, whether that's on Ben's side or the other end. We'll take the next step when we get to that."

Asked if the wait for the investigations to conclude meant sacking Stokes as full-time captain was no longer an option, Key replied: "As far as sacking, or any of that stuff, we haven't got anywhere close to being that far in the process."

Key made no attempt to his his frustration at recent events after he and Stokes had worked on drawing up a new code of behaviour following a woeful 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia concluded in January where England faced accusations of tolerating a drinking culture.

- 'Hard to say players can be trusted' -

He said he was pondering an even more severe policy of a total alcohol ban for players on England duty.

"Even when they win a game of cricket, is it now a time when there's just no alcohol at any time and at any stage?," said Key. "The players now have to show the public that they can be trusted. At this point it's hard to say they can.

"We don't want our players out late at night in alcohol-related incidents."

"I don't think they've become a national embarrassment. I think that Stokes and (coach Brendon) McCullum are (one of) the most successful coach and captain partnerships we've had."

Joe Root had been made interim skipper for the second Test series at the Oval, rather than vice-captain Harry Brook, who was fined and warned for a nightclub clash with a bouncer in Wellington, New Zealand, in November.

"We just thought this was too big a job at this stage for Harry to take on," admitted Key.

"Ultimately, when English cricket's in a hole, Joe Root is the man that we ask to dig us out of it, whether that's on the field or off the field.

"We're incredibly lucky to have him. And when I spoke to him about whether he would consider this, he didn't hesitate."

S.Barghouti--SF-PST