Ben Stokes Dropped From England’s Second Test Against New Zealand After Curfew Violation

England’s Ben Stokes was dropped from the second Test against New Zealand after a breach of team protocol, with Stokes and seamer Gus Atkinson stood down following a midnight curfew violation after the series opener at Lord’s.

“McCullum on Stokes after nightclub incident: ‘I worry for him’ McCullum on Stokes after nightclub incident: ‘I worry for him’ England coach Brendon McCullum said his initial reaction of bewilderment and anger at Ben Stokes breaching team protocols has given way to “worry and concern” following the nightclub incident that has left his captain’s test future in the balance”

AP News

The incident, which involved a confrontation with Saracens rugby union player Totoa Auvaa, left Stokes’s Test future “in the balance” as England prepared for the match at the Kia Oval.

AP News

Brendon McCullum said he was “worried” about Stokes after the nightclub incident, and he described a shift from bewilderment and anger to “worry and concern” for Ben in particular.

With Stokes and Atkinson unavailable, England named a much-changed XI for the second Test at the Oval, including Test debuts for Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker, while Joe Root was set to lead as captain.

The BBC noted that the Test summer had so far comprised 166 overs, and that the period between matches had included Stokes and Atkinson being made unavailable for a Test and a security guard being punched.

Michael Vaughan insisted Stokes has “earned the right” to keep his leadership role despite the curfew breach, saying: “If there’s someone that’s earned the right to come back as the captain of this team, it’s Ben Stokes.”

Vaughan also praised the England and Wales Cricket Board’s handling, arguing: “I actually think this week they’ve dealt with this really well,” and that it got the matter “out there into the public domain quickly.”

BBC

The Guardian framed McCullum’s stance around wellbeing, quoting him saying: “Very quickly, through talking to Ben and also Gus, my overall emotion turned to worry and concern, for Ben in particular.”

AP similarly centered McCullum’s priority on support, quoting him that “it’s been about how we support these guys,” while adding that his “mind is at — I worry for him.”

BBC coverage described the ECB denial that Stokes had been asked to resign, while noting that Durham coach Ryan Campbell said the all-rounder is in “good spirits” and that England will win the series if they beat New Zealand in the second Test at The Oval.

England’s next Test at The Oval starts Wednesday, with the BBC stating that England will win the series if they beat New Zealand in the second Test at The Oval and that they have not won a series for 18 months.

“IRE-W ENG-W null NZ-W SL-W null IND AFG null NED CAN null VAU STC null MAM UPT null STU GOP null NK LEL null WIA SL-EP null AUS-W BAN-W null IND-W NL-W null PAK-W SA-W null ENG NZ null BAN AUS null AFG-A IND-A null DUR-W YOR-W null LAN-W BLZ-W null SOM-W WAR-W null ESS-W HAM-W null NK NWW null LEL NWW null Are England thinking about moving on from Stokes as captain”

ESPNcricinfo

The Independent reported that former captain Joe Root agreed to step in as skipper for the upcoming match at the Kia Oval, while the third Test at Trent Bridge is due to follow just three days later.

Sky Sports said McCullum repeatedly focused on Stokes’s welfare and that his duty of care came before disciplinary matters or the viability of Stokes’ reign as skipper continuing.

The BBC added that Root will lead a team that includes three debutants, and it pointed to the impact of Stokes’s absence as a player as England bolstered batting with debutant Jordan Cox and added seam bowling with Sonny Baker.

ESPNcricinfo’s framing of the situation asked whether England are thinking about moving on from Stokes as captain, while the BBC described the “spectre of Stokes” hanging over England at The Oval as the investigation’s results remain unrevealed.