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England culture "has to change" after Ben Stokes: Michael Vaughan

Is Ben Stokes really the greatest allrounder in the world? (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
3rd October, 2017
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Former captain Michael Vaughan says the England cricket team must change their culture after the Ben Stokes’ arrest.

The allrounder was arrested early last Monday following a night out in Bristol, on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm after getting into a fight. Video footage allegedly shows Stokes throwing punches and knocking a man to the ground.

He has not been charged but police inquiries continue. Stokes and other teammates including Alex Hales were out celebrating a one-day international win over the West Indies less than 72 hours before their next game.

Vaughan says team management need to address how their players behave.

“Yes, he’s 26 years of age, he should be more mature, he has made a massive mistake and I have no sympathy for Ben Stokes whatsoever,” Vaughan told BBC 5Live.

“But the management of the England team have to look at themselves in the mirror and say, ‘Hang on a minute, could we have done a bit more? Could we have been a bit stricter?’.

“I am not saying I want a headmaster and have a curfew and say ,’You have got to be in your room by 11pm and you can never drink’, but there is a time and a place and I just think now, with what has gone on this week, the culture of cricket has to change quickly.”

Stokes has been involved in drink-related incidents before, having been sent home from a 2013 Lions tour. It has been reported he had been out partying during a Test match earlier this year at Old Trafford.

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Vaughan says the hierarchy should have been aware.

“A story came out this week that Ben Stokes was out until 3am during a Test match in Manchester,” Vaughan added.

“I knew that at the time, it was the talk of the media centre. The story was ripped out of the newspapers; it wasn’t allowed to go in; they fought tooth and nail to make sure that story didn’t reach the papers – bad PR, looks terrible on Ben Stokes.

“If I knew it and the media knew it, how come anything wasn’t done to Ben Stokes in the England team?

“When we go on tour, we go to Australia, to India, to Bangladesh, there is a huge amount of security. There is no way in a million years any England player is allowed out, they’re allowed to go and party, but there is no way they are allowed out on their own at that time of night.”

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