England’s captain, Ben Stokes, and bowler Gus Atkinson have been excluded from the second Test match against New Zealand. The decision follows an incident at a London nightclub late the previous night, the details of which have not been fully disclosed. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the disciplinary action, citing a breach of team protocols. Neither player will feature at the Oval, prompting a reshuffle of the England team. Ollie Pope will captain the side in Stokes’ absence. This incident casts a shadow over the series and raises questions about player conduct within the England setup.