The ECB announced on Wednesday that spinner Gus Atkinson and England captain Ben Stokes will not play in the second Test against New Zealand, which will begin next week at The Oval.
Following England’s victory in the first Test, there have been claims of curfew violations and a nightclub incident.
“The England & Wales Cricket Board can confirm that, given the ongoing investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have not been made available for selection for the Rothesay second Test against New Zealand, which starts at the Kia Oval on Wednesday 17 June. Yorkshire batter Joe Root will lead the team as interim captain.”
Despite being under investigation for violating the team’s curfew, Michael Vaughan has supported Stokes to continue leading England.
Following England’s victory in the first Test match against New Zealand at Lord’s on Monday morning, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declared they were investigating Stokes’ role in a nightclub incident.
Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa and Stokes’ England teammate Gus Atkinson were also involved. According to media reports, Stokes might step down as Test captain. In one week, the Oval will host the second Test match against New Zealand.
However, Stokes had enough “credit in the bank” to avoid being fired, according to former England captain Vaughan.
“Yes, Ben Stokes broke a curfew. Yes, he made a mistake. But is that a sacking offence as England’s Test captain? I do not think so. Stokes has a lot of credit in the bank for all he has done for England as captain and all-rounder. There is no way that those making the big decisions at the England and Wales Cricket Board have the same credit in the bank. I do not see how you can tell Stokes he is not captain anymore just for going over the curfew by a couple of hours after a win,” Vaughan wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
He added: “A short suspension would be fine, but this is not a big enough incident over which to lose the captaincy.”
This is the latest case involving the England team following their tour to Australia, where they were accused of having a drinking culture while losing the Ashes series 1-4. It is believed that one of the ECB security personnel was struck during a violent altercation with Auvaa.
