Ben Stokes has been left out of England’s squad for the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval after breaking the team’s midnight curfew. Pace bowler Gus Atkinson has also been dropped. Joe Root has been named interim captain, marking a surprising return to the role he left in 2022.
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed both players were present when a member of England’s security staff was struck by Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa in a London nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning. An ECB investigation remains ongoing, and a separate inquiry by the Cricket Regulator could take several more weeks to conclude.
Why Harry Brook Was Passed Over
Vice-captain Harry Brook was the obvious choice to step in, but the ECB looked elsewhere. Brook was punched by a bouncer outside a Wellington nightclub in October last year, just before a one-day international against New Zealand. Giving him the captaincy eight months after that incident, only for another nightclub controversy to hit the team, was considered untenable.
Root, 35, now takes charge at least for the second Test beginning 17 June at The Oval, and possibly for the third Test at Trent Bridge the following week. The ECB has denied asking Stokes to resign and has given him time to consider his position. That decision to name Root as interim, rather than handing the role to Brook permanently, suggests the door remains open for Stokes to return.
What England Lose Without Stokes and Atkinson
The timing is difficult. England won the first Test at Lord’s by 115 runs, and losing both Stokes and Atkinson disrupts a side that is still rebuilding its reputation after a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia.
Stokes has struggled for batting form recently, but his value as an all-rounder goes beyond numbers. His absence leaves a gap in the balance of the XI. Atkinson, 28, had been in good form at Lord’s, taking seven wickets after a difficult winter. He now loses his place at his home ground.
Jofra Archer, who missed the first Test after playing in the Indian Premier League, has been recalled. Spin-bowling all-rounder Rehan Ahmed is also in the squad and is the likeliest replacement for Stokes. If Ahmed plays, off-spinner Shoaib Bashir — who was not required to bowl a single delivery at Lord’s — would likely miss out. Uncapped batter James Rew remains an option if England go with a specialist replacement.
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Root Steps Back Into the Role He Left Behind
Root led England in 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022, more than any other England captain. He stepped down after winning just one of his last 17 Tests. Stokes succeeded him and, alongside coach Brendon McCullum, rebuilt the Test team around aggressive, attacking cricket.
Now Root returns to lead a side that plays in a completely different way to the one he left. His record as a batter remains outstanding, as he is England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer, and his experience gives the team a steady hand during an uncomfortable week for English cricket.
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