Stokes omitted after nightclub fiasco, Root named captain

Ben Stokes will miss England’s second Test against New Zealand at The Oval following an incident in a London nightclub, with Joe Root stepping up as interim captain.

Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson, who is also omitted from the squad, broke the team’s midnight curfew in the early hours of Monday morning and were present when a member of England’s security staff was struck by Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa.

Harry Brook is England’s vice-captain, yet has been overlooked. He was punched by a bouncer outside a nightclub in Wellington in October on the eve of a one-day international against New Zealand.

And so it means a sensational return to the captaincy for Root, who led England in a record 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022.

The 35-year-old, who is England’s all-time leading run-scorer, stepped down after a sequence of one win in 17 Tests. He was succeeded by his good friend Stokes.

Pace bowler Jofra Archer and batter Jordan Cox have been added to the squad that won the first Test at Lord’s by 115 runs. The second Test begins on June 17.

England squad for second Test vs New Zealand: Joe Root, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.

The England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) investigation into the actions of Stokes and Atkinson is still ongoing.

An ECB statement said: “Given the ongoing investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have not been made available for selection for the second Test against New Zealand.”

The Cricket Regulator is conducting a separate investigation, one that might not be concluded for a number of weeks.

Stokes, 35, has been given time by the ECB in order to consider his options. The governing body has denied any suggestion he has been asked to resign.

The episode is an unwanted controversy for the ECB following a dismal 4-1 Ashes tour of Australia that was dogged by off-field controversy.

The defeat of New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s looked to be a small step in the right direction, but now England will have to attempt to win the series without their captain and all-rounder, and a key pace bowler.

Though Stokes’ poor batting form has come under scrutiny, his all-round abilities are vital to balance the XI.

Atkinson, 28, endured a poor winter, yet looked back to somewhere near his best with seven wickets in the first Test. (BBC)