Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson dropped by England for second Test
IN SHORT
England captain Ben Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson have been dropped from the squad for the second Test against New Zealand due to an investigation into a nightclub incident. Joe Root will captain the team in Stokes' absence.
Who's Involved
Ben Stokes
England captain dropped from squad pending investigation
Gus Atkinson
England player dropped from squad pending investigation
Joe Root
Former England captain appointed interim skipper
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
Investigating the players' conduct
Jofra Archer
Bowler added to the squad
Jordan Cox
Batter added to the squad
Harry Brook
Test vice-captain
↳ Why This Matters
The exclusion of key players Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, along with the interim captaincy of Joe Root, highlights ongoing concerns about professionalism and team culture within the England cricket setup, potentially impacting team performance and player futures.