Check out the reason behind Ben Stokes’ nightclub behaviour

Following the nightclub incident, the ECB has dropped Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson from the Test squad and handed the team's leadership to experienced batter Joe Root. However, several former England cricketers have reacted strongly to this decision. Notably, Harry Brook is the team's vice-captain, yet the management did not entrust him with the leadership for the second Test—a move that took the entire cricketing world by surprise. Ben Stokes has faced significant criticism for his actions, with some calling for his resignation; however, the likes of Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, and other English cricketers have not demanded that he step down.

"I think Ben Stokes will feel like he's let them down, and he will feel a little bit embarrassed. He did look tired, haggard, whatever the phrase is, before a ball went down this summer. I saw a man that the toll of four years of captaincy... weighs you down," Hussain said.

"Nothing hits you harder as a cricketer than losing your form. Ben Stokes has been there a lot for England. He's been there as a captain. He's been there as a player at their finest moments. He got it wrong this time. He got it horribly wrong. But I don't think that is a sackable offence. Ben will be in a dark place at the moment. I just hope Ben doesn't think that, 'I've let so many people down that I'm going to retire.',” he added.

England secured a 1-0 lead in the three-match series by winning the first Test at Lord's by an innings and 115 runs. Nasser Hussain remarked that Stokes must surely feel he has let many people down, but he emphasised the need to understand the toll that the England captaincy has taken on him.

Meanwhile, Atherton discussed the broader context of Ben Stokes's tenure as England captain, highlighting the challenge of remaining in the role for more than four years. Ultimately, Atherton believes the key issue now concerns Stokes's state of mind, rather than whether he should retain his current position or resign from the captaincy. Whatever decision is reached regarding this matter in the coming days will undoubtedly have a profound impact on English cricket.

"I don't think it's a resignation offence, and I don't think it's a sacking offence, precisely because of the essential difference with [Harry] Brook, who was out before an ODI, this was after a test match win. The captain prior to Stokes in recent times, four years, has been about the limit. No matter who you are, it's a job that takes its toll,” said Atherton.

"I did have a kind of instinct before that game that he was just looking like a man who'd been in the job four years. Whilst I don't think it's a resignation or a sacking offence at all, for Ben Stokes, the key thing is his kind of state of mind four years into the job," he added.