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ECB Statement: Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson


What they been doing between January and April?
Them specifically or cricketers in general?

For example, Harry Brook toured New Zealand in October, Australia November-January, Sri Lanka January-February and then the World T20 from February to March.

There is no “off season” for multi-format players and coaches. Now if you mean those two in particular, then maybe it’s more of a fair point.
 
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Them specifically or cricketers in general?

For example, Harry Brook toured New Zealand in October, Australia November-January, Sri Lanka January-February and then the World T20 from February to March.

There is no “off season” for multi-format players and coaches. Now if you mean those two in particular, then maybe it’s more of a fair point.
I did mean in general, football has a few months off if you’re not an international, tho I realise cricketers play in different formats/ franchises but surely that’s even more important to stay at 100% as your getting paid a lot of money.

The argument will be everyone needs to relax / wind down , it’s a short career you can get pissed everyday from 40 onwards is my opinion. So don’t lessen your chances of success
 
I did mean in general, football has a few months off if you’re not an international, tho I realise cricketers play in different formats/ franchises but surely that’s even more important to stay at 100% as your getting paid a lot of money.

The argument will be everyone needs to relax / wind down , it’s a short career you can get pissed everyday from 40 onwards is my opinion. So don’t lessen your chances of success
I see both sides. If you’re paid a fortune every year then you need to be professional. At the same time, if you win a test match I see nothing wrong with celebrating it by going out the night after.

Since the Ashes finished on 8 January (5 months ago), Ben Stokes has played 7 days worth of cricket. Gus Atkinson has played 8.
We don’t know the facts yet. But in relation to the point about going out, I’ve zero issue with it after a win (within reason). They got a load of shit about Noosa. There was nothing wrong with Noosa (Duckett made himself look like a twat but not harm done), the bigger issue was Lilac Hill.
 
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I see both sides. If you’re paid a fortune every year then you need to be professional. At the same time, if you win a test match I see nothing wrong with celebrating it by going out the night after.


We don’t know the facts yet. But in relation to the point about going out, I’ve zero issue with it after a win (within reason). They got a load of shit about Noosa. There was nothing wrong with Noosa (Duckett made himself look like a twat but not harm done), the bigger issue was Lilac Hill.
Being reported he was in an "altercation" with the Saracens player.
 
I see both sides. If you’re paid a fortune every year then you need to be professional. At the same time, if you win a test match I see nothing wrong with celebrating it by going out the night after.


We don’t know the facts yet. But in relation to the point about going out, I’ve zero issue with it after a win (within reason). They got a load of shit about Noosa. There was nothing wrong with Noosa (Duckett made himself look like a twat but not harm done), the bigger issue was Lilac Hill.
No harm done for a professional sportsman to be smashed days before a game?
 
We don’t know the facts yet. But in relation to the point about going out, I’ve zero issue with it after a win (within reason). They got a load of shit about Noosa. There was nothing wrong with Noosa (Duckett made himself look like a twat but not harm done), the bigger issue was Lilac Hill.

That's as maybe, but to say they don't have an off season when neither of the two players involved have played a day's competitive cricket between the beginning of January and the middle of May is a bit strange.
 
No harm done for a professional sportsman to be smashed days before a game?

And aside from that, the players were unprofessional throughout the biggest series England have on the four year calendar. They got their arses slapped on the park by a modest Australia side having tossed it off. They made a lot of travelling people feel very short changed.

They are seemingly incapable of looking after themselves and being professional for a few months at a time. Why not wait til the end of a tour or a summer? There doesn’t seem to be a desire to be the absolute best they can be on and off the park.

That culture comes from the top and there is evidently no authority or standards; Stokes, McCullum and Key should be sacked after this irrespective of the finer details. They were out after curfew and trouble has found them. They shouldn’t be in that position one game into a ‘reset’.
 
No harm done for a professional sportsman to be smashed days before a game?
1) There’s no game for 10 days
2) We don’t know they were “smashed”

That's as maybe, but to say they don't have an off season when neither of the two players involved have played a day's competitive cricket between the beginning of January and the middle of May is a bit strange.
Both injury enforced breaks
 
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