Former England captain David Gower said that Ben Stokes should step down as Test captain following a nightclub altercation revealed on Monday evening, June 8.
Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson were allegedly involved in a confrontation with a Saracens rugby player at a London nightclub. Gower criticized the all‑rounder, saying he failed to set the proper example as a leader.
“He’s in severe doubt. One of the responsibilities as a captain is to set the right tone; if you’re leading, you have to set the right example,” Gower told BBC Radio 5 Live, as reported by The Independent.
England team management instituted a night curfew following several drinking incidents during their troubled 2025 Australia tour, which saw players such as Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell come under scrutiny. Stokes and Atkinson breached the curfew after going out for drinks following their 115‑run victory at Lord’s on the night of Sunday, June 7.
Gower added that any agreed curfew must be respected, a requirement that Stokes and Atkinson have not fulfilled.
“They have to sort it out. If you’ve agreed to a curfew, yes, you have to abide by it. I’ve got a lot of respect for Ben and most the things he’s done for the last three years or so as England captain.
The announcement for the second Test at The Oval has been postponed, and Stokes and Atkinson will not feature. Concerns persist about Stokes’ position as captain, a point Gower reiterated.
“He has become – or, I probably have to use the past tense now – had become, a very important figure as a leader of that team. I don’t know what he’s thinking at the moment. Regret could be the least of it. He will be mortified, I’m sure, to have put himself in that position in the early hours. It’s a misjudgment. You’ve put yourself in a bad position and you’ve put yourself at risk,” he added.
With Stokes unavailable, Harry Brook is poised to captain the side as vice‑captain. Brook previously faced a bouncer outside a Wellington nightclub during the white‑ball series in New Zealand before the Ashes.