Ben Stokes out of the team after nightclub controversy. (Photo- PTI)
ENG vs NZ 2nd Test: A big controversy has arisen in the England cricket team before the second test match against New Zealand. Team’s regular captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson have been dropped from the team for the next Test match on charges of indiscipline and breaking team protocol. After this big development, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has appointed former captain and veteran batsman Joe Root as the interim captain.
England announced new captain
The second match of the Test series between England and New Zealand is to be played from June 17 at The Oval ground in London, where Joe Root will now be seen commanding the team. This is the second time that Joe Root will take charge of the team. Earlier, Root had taken over the responsibility after Alastair Cook in 2017. He captained in a total of 64 test matches. But Joe Root resigned from the Test captaincy of England in April 2022 after poor form and defeat in the Ashes series. Ben Stokes was made the new captain in his place.
What is the whole controversy?
In fact, after registering a spectacular 115-run victory over New Zealand in the first Test match played at Lord’s, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson violated the ‘midnight curfew’ fixed by the team. According to reports, both these players were present in a nightclub in London, where during a dispute, an incident of scuffle with the security personnel of the England team came to light. Considering the seriousness of this matter, the ECB has immediately started an investigation and till the completion of the investigation, both the players have been declared unavailable for selection.
Big changes in England team
England’s bowling attack has suffered a major blow due to the exclusion of captain Stokes and fast bowler Atkinson. To fulfill this deficiency, the board has included two big players in the team. Star fast bowler Joffra Archer has returned to red-ball cricket after a long time. At the same time, young batsman Jordan Cox has also been added to the 15-member team as a backup.
England’s 15-member squad for the second test-
Joe Root (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sony Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethel, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Reeve, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tong.
