England leave out Stokes and Atkinson
England have left captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson out of the second Test against New Zealand after a breach of team protocols following the opening win at Lord’s.
According to The Independent, Stokes reported for duty with Durham on Friday morning after being stood down from England’s Test squad. The 35-year-old arrived at the Banks Homes Riverside before Durham’s County Championship match against Northamptonshire, having been included in the county’s 15-man squad.
The England and Wales Cricket Board said earlier that Stokes and Atkinson had been present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning when an incident took place. The matter has also been referred to the Cricket Regulator.
The pair are understood to have broken England’s midnight curfew after the first Test victory over New Zealand at Lord’s. Their absence is not the result of injury, but of an ongoing disciplinary process.
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Root returns as interim captain
Joe Root has been asked to lead England at The Oval, returning to the captaincy more than four years after stepping down from the role.
The decision means England have turned to their most experienced senior player rather than vice-captain Harry Brook. Root previously captained England in 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022, more than any other England men’s player.
According to Sky Sports, England managing director Rob Key said the decision to use Root was made because of the scale of the situation.
“We just thought this was too big a job at this stage for Harry to take on in the interim. We thought long and hard about the way to go,” Key said.
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England have made several changes for the Test, with Jofra Archer, Matthew Fisher, Sonny Baker and Jordan Cox all coming into the side. Baker and Cox are set for Test debuts.
Investigation clouds Stokes’ future
Stokes’ long-term position as captain remains unresolved while the investigation continues.
According to BBC Sport, Key said England would not make a decision on Stokes’ future until the facts had been established.
“There are a lot of things to happen before then. We’ve got to run the investigation, find out what happened exactly. We’re in the midst of that at the moment. No decisions will be made until after that,” Key said.
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Sky Sports also reported that Key had not ruled Stokes out of returning as captain, but wanted the process to run its course before any decision was made.
“We have got to let the process play through,” Key said. “That’s why it is in place, because I don’t think any of us, whether that’s Ben, Gus, myself, the ECB, no one wants to make a rash decision.”
McCullum focuses on support
England head coach Brendon McCullum has also avoided making public judgments about Stokes’ captaincy while the disciplinary process is ongoing.
According to The Independent’s report on McCullum’s comments, the England coach said the priority was Stokes’ welfare rather than immediate speculation over his future.
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“Our concern is with Ben, our concern is handling that situation, making sure we look after him, that he feels supported by us and in communication with us,” McCullum said.
The episode has revived scrutiny of England’s off-field discipline. The team introduced curfew protocols after a difficult winter in which several alcohol-related incidents attracted criticism. Key has said the ECB will review whether stricter rules, including a possible alcohol ban, are needed.
Durham return keeps door open
Stokes’ return to Durham suggests he remains available for cricket while the investigation continues. The Independent reported that the Press Association understands he could return to the England setup for the third Test at Trent Bridge, which begins next Thursday.
That possibility does not settle the bigger question. Stokes has transformed England’s Test side since taking over the captaincy in 2022, but this incident has placed renewed pressure on a leadership group already under scrutiny.
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For now, England must move on without him. Root will lead at The Oval, the investigation will continue, and Stokes’ future as captain will wait for another day.
