England cricket faces significant changes ahead of the second Test against New Zealand as Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been dropped from the squad after breaching team protocols. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that the duo was "not made available for selection" following their violation of a newly enforced midnight curfew.

The incident occurred when both players were at a nightclub celebrating their recent victory against New Zealand at Lord's. An altercation involving a Saracens rugby player took place, resulting in a punch being thrown, although it struck a security guard instead of Atkinson.

Joe Root, who previously captained the team for a record 64 Tests, has been reinstated as interim captain for the match set to begin on Wednesday, 17 June, at The Kia Oval. This decision comes as Harry Brook, initially in line to be the vice-captain, faced his own disciplinary issues over the winter.

Squad Changes:

• Dropped Players: Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson
• Replacements: Jofra Archer (returning from IPL), Jordan Cox

The full squad for the match includes:

• Joe Root (Yorkshire) - Captain
• Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
• Jofra Archer (Sussex)
• Sonny Baker (Hampshire)
• Shoaib Bashir (Derbyshire)
• Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
• Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
• Jordan Cox (Essex)
• Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
• Matthew Fisher (Surrey)
• Emilio Gay (Durham)
• James Rew (Somerset)
• Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
• Jamie Smith (Surrey)
• Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

The ECB's decision reflects the seriousness of the breach, aiming to uphold the team's professionalism in light of previous criticisms regarding their conduct. The absence of Stokes and Atkinson raises questions about the team's future direction as they prepare for the upcoming match.