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

Ben Stokes volition miss England's 2nd Test against New Zealand astatine The Oval pursuing the nightclub incidental successful London, with Joe Root acceptable to pb the broadside arsenic interim captain.Stokes has been near retired of the squad on with accelerated bowler Gus Atkinson aft the brace breached the team's midnight curfew successful the aboriginal hours of Monday.The 2 players were contiguous astatine a nightclub erstwhile a subordinate of England's information unit was struck by Saracens rugby subordinate Totoa Auvaa.Although Harry Brook is England's vice-captain, helium has not been chosen to pb the squad for the match.Brook was progressive successful an incidental past twelvemonth erstwhile helium was punched by a bouncer extracurricular a nightclub successful Wellington connected the eve of an ODI against New Zealand.Root volition truthful instrumentality to the captaincy for the archetypal clip since stepping down from the relation successful 2022.

The erstwhile skipper led England successful a grounds 64 Tests betwixt 2017 and 2022.The 35-year-old remains England's highest run-scorer successful Test cricket. He resigned arsenic skipper aft England managed 1 triumph successful 17 Tests and was succeeded by Stokes.England person besides added accelerated bowler Jofra Archer and batter Jordan Cox to the squad that won the opening Test against New Zealand by 115 runs astatine Lord's.The 2nd Test against New Zealand begins astatine The Oval connected June 17.