Lord Botham criticises Stokes for breaking curfew

Lord Botham has criticised dropped England captain Ben Stokes for breaking a team curfew and says he does not see "how you justify what happened".

All-rounder Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson were made unavailable for the ongoing second Test against New Zealand pending an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub.

Stokes, 35, and Atkinson, 28, broke the England team's midnight curfew while celebrating victory in the first Test at Lord's.

They were present when a member of the England security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player.

Both men are subject to investigations from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Cricket Regulator.

Botham, who is president of Stokes' county side Durham, having previously served as its chair, discussed Stokes' behaviour on an episode of the Stick to Cricket podcast that will be released in full next week.

"Some people just don't learn do they? It's as simple as that," said Botham.

"We as a club [Durham], when he had the problems in Bristol [in 2017], we stood by him, I stood by him, the whole team stood by him, I was chairman then. Everyone supported him then.

"I don't see how you can justify what happened after the game [at Lord's], especially when you were probably very much in charge of when the curfew is, midnight."

Stokes has been named in Durham's 15-man squad for their County Championship fixture against Northamptonshire, which starts on Friday, but his England future is uncertain.

Botham himself had a reputation as a player who played hard on and off the field.

The 70-year-old said players of his era "used to love going out for a drink" but said they "weren't quite so obvious" compared to the current generation.

England were dogged with allegations of a drinking culture during the 2025-26 Ashes tour, which they lost 4-1.

Before the Ashes, white-ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington on the eve of a one-day international against New Zealand.

As a result, England imposed a midnight curfew on all players and staff.

"In Australia, they go down 2-0. What did the team do? Go to Noosa for five days and everyone knows what happened," said Botham.

"The other night, I was amazed. And what I can't get my head around is what the security bloke is doing there if he and they know they shouldn't be there after midnight? He shouldn't have to overrule him [Stokes], because it shouldn't happen."

Former England skipper Botham, who scored 5,200 runs and took 383 wickets in 102 Tests, said he would not be shocked if Stokes quits cricket completely if he is removed from his position.

"It wouldn't surprise me if Ben was to lose the captaincy, he probably might walk away from the game. But I just don't know," added Botham.

"I don't know where it will go now. I just think something will happen, whichever way it is.

"To be honest with you, it was an unnecessary procedure and one that I think he'll regret."