Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson dropped as England announce squad for 2nd test against New Zealand
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England lead the three-match series 1-0.
After winning the opening game at Lord’s, England are set to clash with New Zealand in the second test of the ongoing series. The ENG vs NZ 2nd test will start on June 17 at Kennington Oval in London.
In the 1st test, Ben Stokes & Co. showed their supremacy at home. They were bowled out for just 140 runs in the 1st innings but made a comeback with the ball, bundling out New Zealand for 113/10.
With a better show with the bat, England posted 226/10 in the 2nd innings and bowled out New Zealand for just 138, winning the encounter by a huge margin of 115 runs. New Zealand completely failed to chase a target of 254 runs in the final innings.
England lead the three-match series 1-0 and look forward to winning the series in the second test. They have announced their squad for the second test on Wednesday, June 10.
Stokes and Atkinson dropped for 2nd test vs New Zealand
Notably, England skipper Ben Stokes will not be part of the 2nd test at The Oval. Pacer Gus Atkinson will also miss the second test. Both have been dropped for the match for breaching protocols and the ECB’s code of conduct.
They broke curfew protocols and were involved in a brawl in a London nightclub. They had a physical altercation with Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa. They were found guilty in the ECB’s investigation and have been banned from playing the second test.
“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,” a statement released by ECB read.
Stokes and Atkinson’s absence will be a big blow for the side. Vice-captain Harry Brook has also been overlooked for the match. In Stokes’ absence, Joe Root will lead the team in the second game.
Jofra Archer has returned for the match after missing the opening game due to workload management. His addition will be a big boost for their bowling unit. Wicket-keeper Jordon Cox is another addition for the next game.
ENG squad for 2nd test vs New Zealand: Joe Root (C), Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (WK), James Rew (WK), Jordan Cox, Rehan Ahmed, Oliver Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Matthew Fisher, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir.
What is England’s squad for the 2nd test against New Zealand?
England’s squad for the second Test against New Zealand: Joe Root (C), Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (WK), James Rew, Jordan Cox, Rehan Ahmed, Oliver Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Matthew Fisher, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir.
When and where will ENG vs NZ 2nd test start?
The ENG vs NZ second test will start on June 17. The venue of the match is Kennington Oval in London.
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Vikas Singh Derek is a core cricket-lover since childhood and has always followed the sport both in his personal and professional life. He started his school life by watching cricket at home with family. Later, he played cricket on the field at local clubs during college. After his Master's in Journalism from Mumbai, he followed his passion by covering cricket news across various digital media. Since 2015, he has been an aspiring sports journalist and cricket content writer with over 50K+ articles.