The news comes as the ECB continues its investigation into Stokes and Gus Atkinson after the pair broke the team’s midnight curfew during a nightclub altercation on Sunday night, hours after England’s 115-run first Test victory over New Zealand at Lord’s.
Senior Cricketer correspondent George Dobell told talkSPORT he believed Stokes would act before the ECB could.
“I fear from everything I hear that Stokes is going to act first. And, regretfully, I hear that he is going to step down and possibly even retire,” Dobell said.
“I hope he brings this back from the brink like he has done so many games, but everything I hear is that he may well have been given some sort of ultimatum.”
EXCLUSIVE: Ben Stokes ‘to step down’ as England captain and could retire from cricket https://t.co/6yHaMgmfO2
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) June 9, 2026
Dobell urged caution over the severity of the punishment, arguing the response should be proportionate to what amounted to a late night out rather than anything more serious.
Vice-captain Harry Brook is expected to take over the Test captaincy if Stokes stands down, having already led England’s white-ball sides following his own nightclub incident in New Zealand last year.
Photo: Reuters/Andrew Boyers
