Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been left out of England’s squad to face New Zealand in next week’s second Test as investigations continue into their ‘breach of team protocols’ in the small hours of Monday morning, with Joe Root to stand in as interim captain at the Oval.
The England captain and the Surrey fast bowler became involved in an incident with the Saracens rugby union player, Totoa Auvaa, at the Rex Rooms nightclub in Chelsea as they celebrated Sunday’s victory in the first Test at Lord’s.
They are now subject to an investigation by the Cricket Regulator after breaking the midnight curfew put in place, largely at the behest of Stokes, after drink-related controversies on tour in New Zealand and then Australia last winter. “Given the ongoing investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have not been made available for selection for the second Test against New Zealand,” confirmed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in a statement.
Sources within the England setup, granted anonymity to protect relationships, have suggested to The Athletic that Stokes considered resigning and even quitting international cricket after the incident.
However, the fact the 35-year-old is still technically in place, at least until after the investigation is complete, suggests he has put his fate very much back into ECB’s hands.
England have resisted appointing vice-captain Harry Brook, who was fined between £30,000 and £52,000 and given an official warning after becoming involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer on the eve of the third one-day international against New Zealand in Wellington last winter, as Stokes’ stand-in leader.
Instead they have asked former captain and senior player Root to take charge at the Oval, where the Test starts next Wednesday, to provide a calm hand on what has again become an unsteady ship. Root, 35, led England in a record 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022 before stepping down after a run of one win in 17 matches.
Jofra Archer, controversially left out of the first Test because of his commitments with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, is back in the squad after returning from a break at home in Barbados and is expected to take Atkinson’s place in the side.
There is also a call-up in the 15-man squad for Essex batter Jordan Cox, who was due to make his Test debut in New Zealand at the end of 2024 while Jamie Smith was on paternity leave before badly damaging a finger in practice.
Cox, just back from warming the IPL benches himself, is unlikely to be given his belated Test bow now, with Stokes’ place likelier to be contested by the other all-rounder in the squad, Rehan Ahmed, or the spare batter at Lord’s — the uncapped James Rew.
England squad for second Test at the Oval: Joe Root (captain), 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 (wicketkeeper), Josh Tongue.
