England Test captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been left out of England’s squad for the second Test of its series against New Zealand.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced it was looking into Stokes and Atkinson’s involvement in a nightclub incident on Monday morning following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.
Certain media reports on Tuesday suggested that Stokes was considering his future as England captain, and possibly considering retirement as well.
“The England & Wales Cricket Board can confirm that, given the ongoing investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have not been made available for selection for the Rothesay 2nd Test against New Zealand, which starts at the Kia Oval on Wednesday June 17,” said an England Cricket statement.
In Stokes’ absence, Joe Root will serve as interim captain while Harry Brook will remain vice-captain. Brook himself was involved in an incident with a bouncer outside a nightclub in New Zealand ahead of the Ashes late last year.
Root was the full-time Test skipper before Stokes took up the role in 2022.
Top-order batsman Jordan Cox and Jofra Archer have been added to the squad as their replacements, which is otherwise unchanged.
England squad for second and third Tests against New Zealand
Joe Root (c), Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (vc), Jamie Smith (wk), James Rew, Jordan Cox, Rehan Ahmed, Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Matthew Fisher, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir.
Published on June 10, 2026
