England drops captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson from the squad for next week’s second Test against New Zealand at the Oval. Multiple outlets say the decision follows a late-night nightclub incident in London and a related breach of team protocols, including curfew requirements. Reports state the pair were absent from the team for the match while an England investigation continues into the circumstances of the incident.
With Stokes unavailable, Joe Root is named as captain for the second Test. Several sources describe Root’s appointment as interim, while England reviews the situation. The Athletic and other reports also note squad changes around the Test, including the selection of other players in place of the two dropped for the match.
While accounts agree on the central facts—that Stokes and Atkinson are left out due to the nightclub matter and that Root takes the captaincy—specific details of any alleged involvement are not uniformly provided in the supplied coverage. Overall, the story centers on the disciplinary/squad decision ahead of the Oval Test and the leadership change for that match.
