The talismanic Stokes, suspended for the Test at the Oval, is more than just a captain and will need the whole team to step up in his absence

The England coach revealed he is in daily contact with the captain, with interim Joe Root to lead a side showing at least four changes

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The talismanic Stokes, suspended for the Test at the Oval, is more than just a captain and will need the whole team to step up in his absence

Brendon McCullum voiced concerns about Ben Stokes' mental wellbeing after the England Test captain was stood down following a curfew breach and an incident involving team security.

England Test captain has a lot of credit in the bank and if he comes back hopefully everyone has the compassion to move past his curfew breach

Ben Stokes will, one hopes, soon be back to resume his magnificent career. But a new chapter calls for a new nickname

England captain Ben Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson have been dropped for the second Test against New Zealand at the Oval following a late-night nightclub incident in London.

His side may have got the best of the first day of the second Test, but it lacked the verve that their talismanic skipper brings