The England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) investigation into the actions of Stokes and Atkinson continues to be ongoing.
An ECB assertion mentioned: “Given the continuing investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson haven’t been made accessible for choice for the second Take a look at towards New Zealand.”
The Cricket Regulator is conducting a separate investigation, one which may not be concluded for numerous weeks.
Stokes, 35, has been given time by the ECB with a view to contemplate his choices. The governing physique has denied any suggestion he has been requested to resign.
The episode is an undesirable controversy for the ECB following a dismal 4-1 Ashes tour of Australia that was dogged by off-field controversy.
The defeat of New Zealand within the first Take a look at at Lord’s seemed to be a small step in the suitable course, however now England should try and win the collection with out their captain and all-rounder, and a key tempo bowler.
Although Stokes’ poor batting type has come underneath scrutiny, his all-round talents are very important to stability the XI.
Atkinson, 28, endured a poor winter, but regarded again to someplace close to his finest with seven wickets within the first Take a look at.
The Surrey man has now surrendered his place within the England workforce on his house floor and his absence might imply a return for Archer, who missed the primary Take a look at following his stint on the Indian Premier League.
Relying on circumstances, the very best alternative for Stokes could be spin-bowling all-rounder Rehan Ahmed, who’s retained within the squad after lacking out on the ultimate XI at Lord’s.
It will be robust on Shoaib Bashir – the off-spinner was within the XI at Lord’s and was not required to bowl a ball. If Ahmed replaces Stokes, Bashir would then make approach for England to subject 4 specialist seamers.
If England determine to switch Stokes with a specialist batter, uncapped James Rew was within the squad for the primary Take a look at.
Essex’s Cox, 25, has been in numerous England Take a look at squads however is but to make an look. He was resulting from make his debut as wicketkeeper on the tour of New Zealand in 2024, solely to endure a damaged thumb within the nets.
Root’s return to the captaincy is an indictment of the state of affairs the ECB discovered themselves in.
It will have been troublesome to have one captain, Stokes, unavailable for a nightclub incident, solely to switch him with Brook, eight months on from his personal nightclub misdemeanour.
Subsequently Root will lead England not less than as soon as extra, and maybe even for the third Take a look at at Trent Bridge per week later.
Root’s elevation might be a touch in direction of an expectation that Stokes will finally return to the job.
If Brook had been made captain, there would have been the chance to reveal the Take a look at workforce in his picture, particularly with Stokes’ enjoying powers showing to be on the wane.
As a substitute, with Root named as interim captain, there appears to be like to be a path for Stokes to return if he wishes.
If the all-rounder misses the remaining Assessments towards New Zealand, his comeback might be for the three-Take a look at collection towards Pakistan in August.
Earlier on Wednesday, ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan mentioned Stokes shouldn’t lose his job as captain.
“Sure, Ben Stokes broke a curfew. Sure, he made a mistake. However is {that a} sacking offence as England’s Take a look at captain? I do not assume so,” Vaughan wrote within the Telegraph.
“The ECB needs to be courageous sufficient and powerful sufficient to do what it thinks is correct. If that’s to sack him then superb, however I don’t agree with that call on this subject.”
