England head coach Brendon McCullum said that his initial reaction of anger at Ben Stokes breaching team protocols has given way to “worry and concern” after the nightclub incident that has left his captain’s test future in the balance as well. Stokes and his teammate Gus Atkinson were dropped from the squad last week before the second test against New Zealand starting Wednesday while they are under investigation following their night out after England’s win in the first test at Lord’s. However, the night ended with a member of England’s security staff being reportedly struck by a rugby player from England club Saracens in a nightclub, where Ben Stokes was present as well.

The incident has heaped more scrutiny on the professionalism and culture around England’s test team — led by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes — after a humiliating Ashes series, after which a midnight curfew was reportedly imposed on England’s players and staff as well.

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“It’s been about how we support these guys, whilst not overlooking the fact that they’ve not lived up to the standards which we’ve set for ourselves,” McCullum said. “You can’t look past that, per se. “But at the same time, we’ll deal with that in time and through a process. But for me, it’s very much about how we support these guys through the next stage, and in particular, Ben. And that’s very much where my mind is at — I worry for him.”

“What will be will be, down the line. Those decisions, they’re not for now,” McCullum again said. “The concern at the moment is making sure that Ben is fine, and we need to look after him, rally around him, and in time, get onto those sorts of decisions.”

Rob Key, England’s director of cricket, last week also said that the England and Wales Cricket Board was considering imposing an alcohol ban on the England team, with the most recent Ashes tour showing an apparent drinking culture that still exists as well. And, McCullum said that his preference would be to allow players to celebrate their wins, just not to “excess.”

“I’m in charge of the environment and I take responsibility for things which don’t work out — what you can’t do is you can’t make every single decision for people as well,” Brendon McCullum concluded. “My job is to try and shape this environment, try and shape these young men who are dealing with the high pressure and high scrutiny of playing international cricket on the larger stage, and being away from home 12 months of a year, and the challenges have come with that. I do believe there is a place to never want to kill the joy, so to speak. I think it’s vitally important that you celebrate your successes.”