Ben Stokes: ECB's Rob Key insists England have not considered relieving captain of duties despite being 'angry' at nightclub incident

ECB managing director Rob Key says he felt dumbstruck, angry and frustrated after learning Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson broke team curfew rules, but is refusing to make a "rash decision" on the Test captain's future.

On Wednesday, the ECB announced that Stokes and Atkinson had "not been made available for selection" for England's second Test against New Zealand at The Kia Oval next week, after the pair were involved in an altercation at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning, after the team's midnight curfew.

Key denied the England men's cricket side was a "national embarrassment", adding he was considering the idea of imposing a complete alcohol ban on the team.

Speaking for the first time since the incident, Key also said:

Reports emerged in recent days that Stokes was considering his future as captain, with Key insisting that a decision to relieve the 35-year-old had "not crossed his mind" with the incident still "very raw".

Stokes and Atkinson were at the Rex Rooms in West London when a Saracens rugby player threw a punch at Atkinson, but hit a security guard who was supervising the players.