Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleBen Stokes and Brendon McCullum during the first Test against New Zealand (Getty)England captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been dropped from the squad for the second Test against New Zealand after breaching curfew at a Chelsea nightclub following their victory at Lord's. Head coach Brendon McCullum expressed significant worry and concern for Stokes, describing his initial reaction as bewildered, then angry, before shifting to a focus on supporting both players. Joe Root will stand in as captain for the second Test, having previously led England in a record 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022. McCullum stated that it is too soon to discuss Stokes' future as England Test captain, emphasising the immediate priority is to ensure Stokes is 'fine' and to rally around him. England will hand Test debuts to batter Jordan Cox and fast bowler Sonny Baker at The Oval, with Cox batting at number seven. In fullBrendon McCullum reacts to Ben Stokes incident: ‘I’m worried about him’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Brendon McCullum ‘worried’ for Ben Stokes after England captain dropped
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleBen Stokes and Brendon McCullum during the first Test against New Zealand (Getty)England captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been dropped from the squad for the second Test against New Zealand after breaching curfew at a Chelsea nightclub following their victory at Lord's. Head coach Brendon McCullum expressed significant worry and concern for Stokes, describing his initial reaction as bewildered, then angry, before shifting to a focus on supporting both players. Joe Root will stand in as captain for the second Test, having previously led England in a record 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022. McCullum stated that it is too soon to discuss Stokes' future as England Test captain, emphasising the immediate priority is to ensure Stokes is 'fine' and to rally around him. England will hand Test debuts to batter Jordan Cox and fast bowler Sonny Baker at The Oval, with Cox batting at number seven. In fullBrendon McCullum reacts to Ben Stokes incident: ‘I’m worried about him’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
