England Drop Stokes and Atkinson for Second NZ Test After Curfew Breach and Nightclub Incident, Name Root as Interim Captain

The England and Wales Cricket Board dropped captain Ben Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson from the squad for next week's second Test against New Zealand after the pair broke the team's midnight curfew and were present during an incident at a London nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning.

The governing body announced the decision on Wednesday. It said both players remain under investigation and therefore have not been made available for selection at The Oval.

Joe Root has been named interim captain. Root previously led England from 2017 to 2022. Vice-captain Harry Brook stays in that role but will not lead the side. Pace bowler Jofra Archer and batter Jordan Cox have been added to the squad.

England won the first Test at Lord's by 115 runs. Atkinson had taken seven wickets in that match. A member of England's security staff was struck by Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa during the same early-morning incident.

The ECB said its own inquiry is continuing and that a separate review by the Cricket Regulator could take several weeks. Stokes has been given time to consider his options. The board denied any suggestion that he has been asked to resign.

The second Test begins on 17 June at 11:00 BST. The episode follows a 4-1 Ashes series defeat in Australia that was also marked by off-field issues.