San Francisco Frontiers - England's Stokes, Atkinson under investigation for nightclub incident

It is the latest controversy concerning the England team following a tour of Australia where the side faced allegations of a drinking culture during a 4-1 Ashes series loss concluded in January.

"The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men's Test against New Zealand," the governing body said.

"Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning when an incident took place.

"We are currently seeking further information, and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course.

"The Cricket Regulator has been informed and we will provide a further update when possible."

The second Test, at the Oval in south London, starts on June 17 and the investigation could lead to the omission of Stokes and Atkinson from the squad for the second of a three-match series.

England thrashed New Zealand by 115 runs before lunch on Sunday's fourth day at Lord's in their first Test match since their humiliating Ashes defeat.

All-rounder Stokes led England to victory, despite raising concerns over the standard of the pitch in the 150th Test at Lord's, while paceman Atkinson helped finish things off in north London with a second-innings haul of 5-30.

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.

The BBC reported the curfew was still in place, even though the first Test had ended, and that the investigation relates to more than a breach of the curfew.

- Noosa incident -

During the Australia tour, the conduct of the England squad came under particularly scrutiny following a mid-series break in the coastal town of Noosa, with a video of Ben Duckett posted on social media that appeared to show the opening batsman in state of intoxication.

England director of cricket Rob Key investigated the squad's time in Noosa, with the former Test batsman denying the team had a drinking culture.

Following the conclusion of the Ashes, details of the incident involving Brook in October were revealed.

Brook claimed to have been alone at the nightclub in Wellington, only for it to emerge he was alongside England team-mates Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue.

The midnight curfew was first imposed for England's white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in January and the T20 World Cup that followed, both when Brook was captain.

It has remained in place, with Stokes the longstanding captain of the Test side.

Stokes turned 35 during the first Test and after England's win at Lord's on Sunday he said: "I'm not going to lie, I'm very, very happy that we've won this week. I knew how big this game was in terms of the result and how it was going to be perceived externally if it didn't go well.

"I won't be really happy until I get to share a beer with the boys."

In 2017, Stokes was involved in an incident outside a nightclub in Bristol, southwest England, that led to him being charged with affray.

He subsequently missed the Ashes tour of 2017/18 before he was found not guilty of the charge following a trial at Bristol Crown Court in August 2018.

B.Turner--SFF