Stokes out of England squad, Root named captain

The England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) investigation into the actions of Stokes and Atkinson is still ongoing. An ECB statement said: "Given the ongoing investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have not been made available for selection for the second Test against New Zealand." The Cricket Regulator is conducting a separate investigation, one that might not be concluded for a number of weeks. Stokes, 35, has been given time by the ECB in order to consider his options. …