Big earthquake in England cricket: Ben Stokes stripped of captaincy on his return to the team, Joe Root given command after midnight curfew controversy.

A very shocking news is coming out about England cricket team’s star all-rounder Ben Stokes. According to the latest reports, Ben Stokes is all set to make a comeback in the England team in the third Test match against New Zealand, but he has suffered a big shock. Stokes has currently been stripped of the captaincy of the team after being implicated in a serious case of indiscipline. Stokes can be seen on the field as a player in this upcoming match to be held at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, but there is a strong possibility that the command of the team will remain in the hands of veteran batsman Joe Root.

This entire controversy arose when the team’s violation of ‘Midnight Curfew’ came to light after England’s spectacular victory in the Lord’s Test.

Gus Atkinson investigated for breaking midnight curfew, suspended for one match

According to local English media reports, Ben Stokes and his teammate Gus Atkinson were accused of violating the team’s curfew time during the celebration of the victory of the first Test match. After this, an independent body of cricket regulation started a prompt investigation into the matter. Both the players were thoroughly interrogated till Thursday. According to the report of ‘The Times’, both Stokes and Atkinson have been suspended for one match and heavily fined for this indiscipline. Since both these players remained out of the ongoing second Test match at the Oval, their suspension has now been completed and they are available for selection for the third Test. The cricket regulator is ready to give an official decision on this entire matter.

ECB cautious about captaincy, Joe Root will remain acting captain for now

Even though the way has been cleared for 35-year-old Ben Stokes’ return to the field after serving a one-match ban, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is adopting a very cautious approach on the sensitive issue of captaincy. Looking at the events of Stokes in the last few days, the board is in no mood to hand over such a big responsibility to him again in a hurry. This is the reason why Joe Root will be seen leading the team as the acting captain in the Nottingham Test. Any long-term decision regarding this leadership role has been postponed for now. England will have plenty of time to reflect after the New Zealand series ends, as their next Test match is against Pakistan in mid-August.

Relations soured with head coach Brendon McCullum? Stokes will look for form from county cricket

This entire controversy has heated up the atmosphere in the England cricket dressing room. There is speculation in the British media that after this incident, there has been some bitterness in the relations between Ben Stokes and the team’s head coach Brendon McCullum, which has put a new question mark on Stokes’ international cricket future. However, amidst all these controversies, there is also a relief news for Stokes. The ECB has given him the green signal to play for Durham in the County Championship match against Northamptonshire. Stokes has been included in the Durham squad, where he will look to regain his form and rhythm in competitive cricket and will join the England squad for the third Test soon after.