A home Test summer for England was supposed to be a triumphant return. Beating New Zealand comprehensively at Lord’s following a dismal Ashes summer was a step forward in regaining trust amongst the cricketing public, but the focus of the attention has shifted away from the willow and on to the off-field escapades of English cricket's stars once again. Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been subject to investigation after being reportedly involved in a nightclub incident in central London in the early hours after England's victory over New Zealand at Lord's on Friday. Full details are still emerging of the event, but already the scandal has raised more question marks over discipline, captaincy, and the general team culture of the English side. The scandal comes at a sensitive time for English cricket, following over half a dozen alcohol related controversies for other members of the squad over the past year. Also Read | Who Will Lead England if Ben Stokes is Sacked? Top 3 Contenders for Test Captaincy Ben Stokes and the Leadership Question The mian worry with this scenario is not so much that players have breached team protocols, as such. It is that the captain himself appears to have been present and involved. The arrival of Ben Stokes as Test captain last summer marked the resurgence of a revitalised England Test side. His arrival, with the proactive approach he implemented on the pitch, transformed how England played, and provided a crucial belief back to the squad following a tumultuous period. Captains, however, are required to set the standards by which their teammates play, and when the leader breaches protocol, the ramifications could be devastating for English cricket. The ECB have already confirmed that both Stokes and Atkinson were at the scene of the nightclub incident. The full nature of their involvement in the alleged event is still to be determined by the inquiry, but the very fact that the captain was out far later than permitted, after a victory with the team, have brought his position as captain under an intense spotlight. The entire argument surrounding the incident is no longer solely what transpired within the confines of a nightclub, rather, what the status and captaincy of England can be after a leader so clearly flouted rules, rules everyone within the squad had to abide by. English Cricket's Ongoing Battle with Team Culture This is not the only incident by any means. Over recent months, there have been various alcohol related controversies involving Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Josh Tongue, and Ben Duckett, and whilst each incident may have varied slightly in nature, cumulatively they have created a damaged image which English cricket simply can't hide from any longer. Following a damaging Ashes campaign in Australia, the England cricket board enacted strict rules of team protocol, most notably a team curfew. These rules were introduced primarily to help prevent the sort of situation which has since unfolded. The inevitable conclusion, upon learning of this latest scandal, is whether much, if anything, actually changed behind the scenes when England implemented stricter rules. Also Read | What Happened in the Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson Nightclub Incident? A Defining Decision Awaits A complicated decision now lies in the ECB's hands. If the investigation discovers merely an error of judgment from Stokes, the ECB must decide whether this itself merits removing England's leader; further sanction would inevitably have consequences far beyond the Test team's future fortunes. It is beyond doubt that Stokes, the cricketer is crucial to England; the team is better for his inclusion in the side. But there is more to the position of captain than a statistical accumulation of runs, wickets, and wins. As the focus shifts to England's second Test match against New Zealand, all eyes are on what the ECB will do next. Regardless of the eventual decision, the implications for Ben Stokes and English cricket may very well be enduring.