London, June 10: Joe Root will lead England in the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval. Regular captain Ben Stokes has been suspended due to an ongoing investigation related to a nightclub incident. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson has also been excluded from the team.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that no player will be available for selection while the investigation is underway.
In a statement, the ECB said, “In light of the investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson will not be available for selection for the second Test against New Zealand.”
The cricket regulator is conducting a separate inquiry into the nightclub incident, which may take several weeks to complete.
Harry Brook, who is the vice-captain, was overlooked for the captaincy in favor of Root. Brook himself was involved in an off-field incident last October in New Zealand, where he was punched outside a nightclub just before a One Day International. Root previously captained the England Test team from 2017 to 2022.
Root, England’s most successful batsman, has led the team in a record 64 Test matches. His final year as captain was disappointing, leading to his resignation. Following Root’s departure, Ben Stokes was appointed as the captain of the England Test team.
England has also included Jofra Archer and Jordan Cox in the squad.
The 35-year-old Stokes has been given time by the ECB to consider his future options, but the governing body has denied claims that he was asked to resign from the captaincy.
This controversy comes as another setback for English cricket following a disappointing 4-1 defeat in the Ashes series in Australia, which also saw several off-field incidents. Although England showed positive signs with a brilliant victory against New Zealand at Lord’s, they now face the challenge of trying to win the series without their captain and top all-rounder, as well as one of their key fast bowlers.
Stokes’ batting form has faced criticism in recent months. His contribution goes beyond just scoring runs; his performance with both bat and ball is crucial for England’s balance and strategy. On the other hand, Atkinson had a challenging previous season but showed signs of improvement during the first Test, taking seven wickets. The 28-year-old will miss the opportunity to play at his home ground, The Oval.
Atkinson’s absence may open the door for Archer. Spinner Rehan Ahmed could be given a chance to replace Stokes. The second Test is set to begin on June 17.
England’s squad for the second Test includes: Joe Root (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sony Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethel, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), and Josh Tong.
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