Root to lead England as Stokes and Atkinson left out of second Test squad

ENGLAND captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been left out of the squad for next week's second Test against New Zealand, with former skipper Joe Root answering an SOS to lead the side on an interim basis.

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Stokes (pictured) and Atkinson broke team protocols as they celebrated Sunday's victory over the Black Caps at Lord’s, breaching a midnight curfew before a confrontation took place involving Saracens rugby union player Totoa Auvaa.

They remain subject to an internal investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board - and another by the independent Cricket Regulator - but fears that Stokes was ready to stand down as skipper, or even announce his international retirement have cooled.

Instead, the ECB has bought some time by leaving both men out of next Wednesday's clash at the Kia Oval without administering any formal disciplinary action.

Intriguingly, Harry Brook has not stepped up from his role as vice-captain. That role goes to Root, who held the post for five years before stepping down in 2022 and is viewed as the most mature presence in a dressing room that has faced plentiful criticism of its professionalism.

Brook has been the white-ball captain for over a year and replaced Ollie Pope as Stokes’ deputy at the end of last summer.