Ben Stokes will step down as England skipper and could retire from Test cricket, according to talkSport. The veteran all-rounder was involved in a fight at a nightclub alongside Gus Atkinson on Sunday night.

The incident happened after England beat New Zealand by 115 runs in the first Test at Lord’s. The England and Wales Cricket Board is probing the matter, which also involves a rugby player from the Saracens’ academy.

Stokes is currently leading the national side against the Kiwis at home, and the nightclub controversy is the latest scandal involving the England squad.

England’s Test vice-captain Harry Brook had to apologize over a fight with a bouncer in New Zealand last year.

Another controversy involving the England cricket team happened during the Ashes Down Under. The left-handed batter Ben Duckett was seen drunk.

Senior correspondent at The Cricketer,  George Dobell, said that Stokes is likely to leave the captaincy.

“Stokes is going to act first and will step down and even retire. It would be regrettable, and I hope he doesn’t.  I hope he stands and fights, which he is renowned for.

“I hope he returns from the brink as he did in the past so many times. I have heard that he has been given an ultimatum. We will hear in a day that he has stood down. I don’t think it is needed.

“The punishment, if given, should be proportionate. Staying out too late and drinking is not the ideal example set by a cricketer. There will be consequences, but we don’t want to see a great cricketer retiring like that.”

However, former England bowler Steve Harmison has defended Stokes and Atkinson. “We are getting a bit overboard, and the fact remains that we are not aware of the entire incident. Let everything come out before we start judging the players. Ben is a great kid and an honest lad. I am behind him, and I have no issues. I have known Ben since he was 15 years old.

“A lot is being said without knowing the facts,” he said. England and New Zealand will play the second Test from  June 17 at The Oval.

The three-match series will be followed by five T20 internationals and three ODIs against India in July.

Meanwhile, Stokes was retained as captain despite the debacle against the Aussies. The visiting team failed in all the departments of the game, and the performances of the players were slammed by former cricketers. There were speculations about Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum getting sacked, but the ECB decided to back them.