Ben Stokes dropped, Joe Root returns as Test captain after nightclub row rocks England cricket

England captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were dropped from squad for the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval following the nightclub incident, with Joe Root set to lead the side as interim captain.

Stokes has been left out of the squad along with fast bowler Gus Atkinson after the pair breached the team's midnight curfew in the early hours of Monday.

The England & Wales Cricket Board said Stokes and Atkinson “have not been made available for selection.”

The two players were present at a nightclub when a member of England's security staff was struck by Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa.

Although Harry Brook is England's vice-captain, he has not been chosen to lead the team for the match.

Brook was involved in an incident last year when he was punched by a bouncer outside a nightclub in Wellington on the eve of an ODI against New Zealand.

Root will therefore return to the captaincy for the first time since stepping down from the role in 2022. The former skipper led England in a record 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022.

The 35-year-old remains England's highest run-scorer in Test cricket. He resigned as captain after England managed one win in 17 Tests and was succeeded by Stokes.

England have also added fast bowler Jofra Archer and batter Jordan Cox to the squad that won the opening Test against New Zealand by 115 runs at Lord's.

The second Test against New Zealand begins at The Oval on June 17.

Meanwhile, some reports have suggested England Ben Stokes may even retire from cricket following the nightclub controversy involving him and teammate Gus Atkinson.

The development comes after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) launched an investigation into an incident involving Stokes and Atkinson at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday, hours after England's 115-run win over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord's.

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



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