England cricketer Ben Stokes has been removed from the national squad for the upcoming test match against New Zealand as an inquiry is ongoing regarding an incident at a nightclub. Reports suggest that Stokes was involved in an altercation with Gus Atkinson, a security staff member, and a Saracens rugby player. Consequently, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has taken action by relieving Stokes of his captaincy duties and dropping him from the team.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the ECB confirmed that Stokes and Atkinson will not be considered for selection for the upcoming Rothesay 2nd Test at the Kia Oval on June 17 due to the ongoing investigation. Yorkshire’s Joe Root will step in as the Interim Captain, with the additions of Sussex’s Jofra Archer and Essex’s Jordan Cox to the squad.
This decision has led to vice-captain Harry Brook being bypassed, with Root assuming the captaincy role. The ECB is actively investigating the breach of team protocols that occurred after the first Men’s Test against New Zealand, where Stokes and Atkinson were present at a nightclub during the early hours of Monday. The cricket authorities have been informed, and further updates on the squad for the second test will be provided in due course.
Saracens also issued a statement acknowledging an incident involving one of their academy players and assured that they are cooperating with relevant authorities to address the matter appropriately. The first test between England and New Zealand concluded with England’s victory by 115 runs, paving the way for the upcoming match at The Oval next week.
The revised squad for the second test includes players like Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Shoaib Bashir (Derbyshire), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Matthew Fisher (Surrey), Emilio Gay (Durham), James Rew (Somerset), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Jamie Smith (Surrey), and Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire).
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