Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were at the heart of a incident in a Chelsea nightclub and amid an ongoing investigation, both stars have been axed from the England squad15:12, 10 Jun 2026Updated 15:26, 10 Jun 2026Ben Stokes has been axed from the England squad for the second test vs New Zealand amid the investigation into a nightclub incident.‌It was reported that the England captain was involved in a clash alongside Gus Atkinson, a member of security and a Saracens rugby player. An investigation has been launched and while that remains ongoing, the ECB have confirmed that Stokes has been stripped of the captaincy and cut from the squad.‌A statement on Wednesday read: "The England & Wales Cricket Board can confirm that, given the ongoing investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have not been made available for selection for the Rothesay 2nd Test against New Zealand, which starts at the Kia Oval on Wednesday 17 June.‌"Yorkshire batter Joe Root will lead the team as Interim Captain. Sussex fast bowler Jofra Archer and Essex batter Jordan Cox have been added to the squad."The decision means that vice captain Harry Brook has been overlooked, with Joe Root handed the role of captain.JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page‌A statement on the investigation into the incident from the ECB read: "The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men’s Test against New Zealand. Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning when an incident took place."We are currently seeking further information, and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course. The Cricket Regulator has been informed and we will provide a further update when possible."A statement from Saracens added: "We are aware of an incident involving an academy player connected to Saracens on Sunday evening.‌"The club is currently establishing the full facts and is in contact with the relevant authorities and individuals involved. Once this process is complete, the matter will be reviewed and addressed appropriately. We will make no further comment at this time."England won the first test against New Zealand by 115 runs, with the follow-up test due to take place at The Oval and is set to begin next week.‌England Men's Test Squad in full:Joe Root (Yorkshire) - CaptainRehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)Jofra Archer (Sussex)‌Sonny Baker (Hampshire)Shoaib Bashir (Derbyshire)Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)‌Harry Brook (Yorkshire)Jordan Cox (Essex)Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)‌Matthew Fisher (Surrey)Emilio Gay (Durham)James Rew (Somerset)‌Ollie Robinson (Sussex)Jamie Smith (Surrey)Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)Article continues belowJoin our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.