ENG vs NZ: England squad announced for the second Test. Who is the England captain?

The England Cricket Board (ECB) have announced England’s second test squad against New Zealand, which is scheduled at the Kia Oval on June 17. The squad removed pacer Gus Atkinson and regular skipper Ben Stokes from the squad as a result of the Nightclub incident. Veteran batter Joe Root will lead the side as interim skipper. The decision comes as the England and Wales Cricket Board continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding an incident at a Chelsea nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning. Vice-captain Harry Brook has not been handed the leadership role for this match.  

Jordan Cox and Jofra Archer will be included for the second test squad instead of Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson.  Root has led England in 64 Tests from 2017 to 2022, during which England won 27, lost 26, and drew 11. After this, Stokes took over. Root was picked over White-ball skipper Harry Brook, who served as England's vice-captain throughout the Ashes tour. It's interesting to note that Brook got into an altercation with a bouncer the night before the third ODI against New Zealand last year, and the bouncer knocked him down. 

England Test skipper Ben Stokes and pacer Gus Atkinson are under investigation for violating team protocols after being found present at a nightclub on Monday, following the end of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, which England won. 

This is not the first instance of England Men’s cricket team players coming under the scanner for their off-field behaviour in recent months. Before this, Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell were under investigation for allegedly partying and being drunk during their team's trip to Noosa after two humiliating away-from-home losses to Australia in the Ashes last year.

The hosts, England, are currently leading the 3-match series 1-0. They won the first test match against New Zealand by 115 runs at Lord's, London. 

England's second Test squad

Joe Root ©, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue