Stokes apologises to team-mates for curfew breach ahead of Test return

Captain Ben Stokes admits England are under the “highest amount of pressure” since he and coach Brendon McCullum took charge four years ago.

Ben Stokes apologises to England teammates: backlash against Joe Root ‘hurt me’

England captain contrite on return after curfew breach Oval loss ‘hurt me, because I’m very close with Joe’ Ben Stokes has spoken for the first time about his exclusion from the second Test against New Zealand on disciplinary grounds, revealing he has apologised to his teammates and was “hurt” seeing Joe Root criticised as a stand-in captain. The 35-year-old was stood down before the 253-run defeat at the Oval after he and Gus Atkinson broke the team’s curfew following victory in the first ...

By Ali Martin at Trent Bridge

'It hurt me': Ben Stokes explodes over Joe Root backlash after owning up to England curfew sins

Returning captain Ben Stokes has broken his silence on the nightclub curfew controversy, revealing he apologised to the squad and was hurt by the Joe Root criticism.

'You need to apologise': Ben Stokes breaks silence on nightclub controversy

England captain Ben Stokes said he apologised to teammates after he and Gus Atkinson missed the second Test for breaching the team's midnight curfew. Stokes admitted the nightclub controversy overshadowed the debuts of several young players and affected the squad. Cleared of serious misconduct but issued warnings, Stokes stressed accountability, denied any rift with coach Brendon McCullum, and said the team is now fully focused on winning the series decider against New Zealand.

By TOI SPORTS DESK