Joe Root replaces Ben Stokes as England captain for the second Test against New Zealand after a London nightclub incident. Read the latest squad updates, ECB investigation details, Jofra Archer's return, and Michael Vaughan's reaction

England vs New Zealand, 2nd Test: Joe Root returns as skipper after Ben Stokes omitted

England captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson face ECB investigation after a nightclub incident post-Lord's Test win over New Zealand. Both may miss The Oval Test as the Cricket Regulator reviews the breach of team protocols.

Stokes set to be sacked as England Test captain? Skipper and pacer Atkinson under investigation by ECB

The first Test between England vs NZ was over inside three days in 166 overs - second shortest ever to be played at Lord's. England won it by 115 runs despite being all-out on 16-wicket first day of the Test.

'Not ideal': England win Test but skipper Ben Stokes isn't happy with Lord's pitch

England captain Ben Stokes has backed his team to stay motivated and clinch a series win against New Zealand in the three-match ICC World Test Championship series, starting Jun 4 at Lord’s.

'Desperate to win': England skipper Ben Stokes ahead of New Zealand Test

I F*****G love this team": A defiant Ben Stokes hits back at critics after England’s Ashes heartbreak. Read the full transcript of Stokes' viral message to fans, his admission of mistakes, and his bold plan for the future of English Test cricket.

‘We made mistakes, we learnt’: Stokes breaks silence after ‘hardest 3 months’, says ‘I F***G love this team’

Amid the uproar about England's performance, their drinking break in Noosa, and overall discipline, the sacking of McCullum and Key seemed imminent but ECB decided to take another route. Ben Stokes is as ecstatic as he can be and his enthusiasm was visible in a profanity-filled letter.

ECB decides to not sack McCullum after Ashses debacle review and Stokes is ecstatic

The England Test skipper had shared a rather nasty picture of the injury on social media. After the surgery, Stokes shared another picture, on Tuesday (Feb 10), with the captaion: "May not look like it but the surgery was a success."

'May not look like...': England Test skipper Ben Stokes shares face injury update after surgery

Ben Stokes wasn’t batting when the incident occurred, but was standing on the side with his teammates.

Ben Stokes brutally injured in training, reveals severely bruised right eye, bleeding nose

Stokes, who only plays Test cricket for England, is a surprise inclusion to the coaching staff. With 2027 ODI World Cup nearly 18 months away, could Stokes' inclusion is hinting at bigger picture? We'll know when the time comes.

'As we build towards 2027 ODI WC': Stokes joins England Lions coaching staff

Overall, England played 46 Tests under McCullum and Stokes, winning 26 and losing 18 Tests to go with two draws. It remains to be seen if England retain McCullum and Stokes as coach and the captain before the start of home summer in June later this year. 

Ex-England bowler Chris Woakes delivers 'would be a bit daft' verdict on future of Bazball

Barring a few things, all went wrong for England and Bazball in Australia this time as they conceded the away Ashes (1-4).

‘Underprepared, cafe outings after Perth loss, disobeying captain Stokes’ - ENG's shock Ashes details revealed

The five-Test series, which had 25 playing days, was decided in just 11 days with five of those coming in the last Test in Sydney with England losing 1-4, winning only the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

End of bazball? ECB vows to make ‘necessary changes.’ What it means for McCullum and Stokes

Stokes bowled more than 100 overs in the series, second most for England after Brydon Carse's 130+ overs. Along with additional duties of batting and leading the side, the workload was bound to take its toll and it did, thankfully in the second last innings England would bowl.

Ashes 2025-26: Ben Stokes sustains groin injury as England look at defeat in Sydney Test

Stokes, however, had the last laugh as he dismissed Labushchagne, batting at 48, when he chased a wide ball and gave a catch to Jacob Bethell in gully. Not words followed after that.

Ashes 2025-26: Stokes-Labuschagne get into heated exchange on day 2 of Sydney Test | WATCH

England bowled Australia out for a paltry 152 in the first innings in just 45.2 overs. The visitors, who are trailing 0-3 in the five-match series, however, could not take advatange given by their bowlers and were bowled out for 110 in reply.

Ashes 2025-26: Ex-England skipper Alastair Cook says 'unfair contest' after 20 wickets fall on day 1 of Boxing Day Test

With Duckett’s morale, the English Team and their little hopes of making any comeback in this five-match series, all in tartars, Stokes vows to handle this situation better ahead of the marquee Test at the iconic MCG starting Friday (Dec 26). 

Ashes: Ben Stokes vows to handle Duckett’s ‘viral drunk video episode’ better ahead of Boxing Day Test

While Stokes' demand isn't unfair, England, as a team, has failed to live up to their end of the bargain and give fans something to cheer for as they trail 0-3 in five-Test Ashes with hopes of winning the urn in Australia buried deep until the next tour Down Under.

Ashes 2025-26: Ben Stokes wants 'empathy' for England players amid horrid performance

The idea, as told by coach Brendon McCullum, was to make the team feel fresh during the do-or-die Test. England, however, lost the match by 82 runs as Australia took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series.

England managing director Robert Key vows to investigate Noosa break drinking

McCullum-Stokes have won 25 Tests and lost 17 while drawing only two. The results started going off the mark since 2024 and England have lost more (13) matches since than they have won (12). 

'I don't know,' says McCullum about staying on as England coach in next summer

While Australia won the Perth Test inside two days, they reigned supreme in the Pink-Ball Test at the Gabba in Brisbane before knocking England off in Adelaide to retain the Ashes.

‘The dream is now over,’ England captain Ben Stokes reacts to crushing Ashes defeat

Playing in the morning session of Day 3, on the first ball of the 85th over, Stokes was castled by Starc, after the English batter was seen jumping and leaving the field in frustration.

Watch: Angry Ben Stokes jumps in frustration as Mitchell Starc castles English batter

Stokes said after the Gabba defeat that Australia was "no place for weak men" and admitted to hard dressing-room discussions in the aftermath.

Ashes: Ben Stokes tells England players to ‘show a bit of dog’ in Adelaide Test

The criticism comes after England fell to 0-2 scoreline in the ongoing Ashes Down Under with three matches left. The context for Vaughan's comments was pre-series mockery of Australian team age profile, which is 30-plus, by England media and players.

Ashes 2025-26: Ex-skipper Michael Vaughan calls current England team selection 'suggestions of weak men' amid horror run

The idea behind not picking up Bashir could be Test being played by pink ball where spinners have played historically a lesser role. Stokes also said that if they were to select a proper spinner then England would have gone with Bashir.

Ashes 2025-26: 'If we wanted out best spinner then Bashir would have played,' says Stokes on picking Will Jacks for Brisbane Test

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England vs New Zealand, 2nd Test: Joe Root returns as skipper after Ben Stokes omitted

Stokes to be sacked as Test captain? Skipper & Atkinson under probe by ECB

'Not ideal': England win Test but skipper Stokes isn't happy with Lord's pitch

'Desperate to win': England skipper Ben Stokes ahead of New Zealand Test

Stokes breaks silence after ‘hardest 3 months’, says ‘I F***G love this team’

ECB decides to not sack McCullum after Ashses debacle review

'May not look like...': Ben Stokes shares face injury update after surgery

Stokes injured in training, reveals severely bruised right eye, bleeding nose

'As we build towards 2027 ODI WC': Stokes joins England Lions coaching staff

Ex-England bowler delivers 'would be a bit daft' verdict on future of Bazball

SHOCK Ashes details revealed - 'ENG was underprepared; players disobeyed Stokes'

End of bazball? ECB vows to make ‘necessary changes' in aftermath of Ashes

Ashes: Ben Stokes sustains groin injury as England look at defeat in Sydney Test

Ashes 2025-26: Stokes-Labuschagne get into heated exchange on day 2 of Sydney Test | WATCH

Ashes: Cook says 'unfair contest' as 20 wickets fall on day 1 of Boxing Day Test

Ashes: Ben Stokes vows to handle Duckett’s ‘viral drunk video episode’ better

Ashes: Ben Stokes wants 'empathy' for England players amid horrid performance

England managing director Robert Key vows to investigate Noosa break drinking

'I don't know,' says McCullum about staying on as England coach in next summer

‘The dream is now over,’ England captain Stokes reacts to crushing Ashes defeat

Watch: Angry Stokes jumps in frustration as Starc castles English batter

Ashes: Ben Stokes tells England players to ‘show a bit of dog’ in Adelaide Test

Ashes: Ex-skipper calls current England team selection 'suggestions of weak men'

Ashes: England picked Jacks because they didn't want best spinner in Brisbane?