Rob Key, England’s managing director of cricket, is weighing up tougher alcohol restrictions for the men’s team after the latest London nightclub incident involving Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson. The pair have already been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand, and Key has not ruled out further leadership changes as England deals with another off-field setback. The episode has intensified scrutiny on England’s dressing-room culture, especially after a series of late-night incidents involving players over the past few months.

In response to previous criticism, England had already introduced a midnight curfew during the winter, but Stokes and Atkinson are understood to have breached those team rules after an outing following the first Test. For Key, the bigger issue is now about restoring public trust as much as maintaining discipline inside the camp.

Speaking about whether England needs even stricter measures, Key said the governing principle may have to change. He suggested the board must examine whether the current standards have been strong enough, and even floated the possibility of banning alcohol entirely around victories and team gatherings. At the same time, he stressed that any decision must be measured and not create an overly restrictive environment for the squad.

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“We have to ask whether we have been strict enough,” Rob Key said. “Is this a point where there should be no alcohol at any stage? I need to think that through carefully because I do not want to make a rushed decision that hurts the team.”

He added that the players now have to prove they can be trusted again, saying public confidence has been damaged by repeated incidents. Amid speculation that Stokes could step away from captaincy, or even from the game, Key dismissed suggestions that the all-rounder had already signalled such a decision. He said Stokes had not indicated any such plans in his conversations with the England hierarchy.

Key also made it clear that he sees no reason why Stokes should not continue to represent England once the matter is resolved. However, he stopped short of offering any guarantees about the Test captaincy, pointing out that the investigation is still ongoing and no final call can be made until all facts are known.

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“There are a lot of things to happen before then,” Rob Key explained. “We need to complete the investigation and understand exactly what happened. No decisions will be made until that process is finished.”

England have already turned to Joe Root as stand-in captain for the second Test against New Zealand, with Stokes and Atkinson both omitted while the inquiry continues.