England to face New Zealand in 2nd Test without Stokes

England will take the field for the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval on Wednesday, June 17, without their captain Ben Stokes and amid significant upheaval to their squad, casting a shadow over their bid to clinch the series. Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson have been stood down from the match pending an investigation into a breach of team protocols, while a potential injury to Ollie Robinson has further disrupted the team's preparations.

The incident occurred after England's 115-run victory in the first Test at Lord's last week, when Stokes and Atkinson broke a midnight curfew during a night out in London. The evening reportedly involved an altercation with a Saracens rugby player, which resulted in a member of England's security staff requiring medical attention. Neither Stokes nor Atkinson were injured, and police were not involved. Both players have admitted to breaching the curfew.

England head coach Brendon McCullum, speaking publicly for the first time on Monday, June 15, expressed deep concern for Stokes's wellbeing. He described his initial reaction as one of bewilderment and anger, which quickly turned to worry for the captain. "My overall emotion turned...