Stokes out of England squad, Joe Root named captain

LONDON: 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 on Wednesday, 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, England's vice-captain, 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, England's all-time leading run-scorer, stepped down after winning only one of 17 Tests. His good friend Stokes succeeded him.

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.

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 that might not conclude for several 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.

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

Earlier on Wednesday, ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan said Stokes should not lose his captaincy.

"Yes, Ben Stokes broke a curfew. Yes, he made a mistake. But is that a sacking offence as England's Test captain? I don't think so," Vaughan wrote in the Telegraph.

"The ECB has to be brave enough and strong enough to do what it thinks is right. If that is to sack him then fine, but I do not agree with that decision on this issue."

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