Article #48152

• Stokes weighing up future following late-night incident

• Atkinson also left out with Root to captain team

Joe Root will captain England in next week’s second Test against New Zealand after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were left out of the squad for breaking the team curfew as they celebrated victory in the first game of the series on Sunday night.

Stokes, the team’s full-time captain, is being given some time to consider his future after he contributed to the resurfacing of the debate about what is widely perceived as an unprofessional culture within the group. He is reported to have spent Wednesday in meetings with his agent and advisers. Atkinson will also miss the game, which is being played at the Oval, the Surrey seamer’s home ground.