England vs New Zealand second Test, Joe Root press conference, Ben Stokes banned, team, starting XI, video

Joe Root says he will take on the England captaincy on a “game-by-game basis” after replacing the exiled Ben Stokes for this week’s second Test against New Zealand.

With Stokes left out of the squad for the Oval match after breaking a curfew along with teammate Gus Atkinson, Root agreed to captain England for the first time since 2022.

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Stokes and Atkinson were involved in an incident at a London nightclub while celebrating England’s first Test win against New Zealand, prompting reports that the Durham all-rounder could be stripped of the captaincy or retire from international cricket.

Root led England for a record 64 matches before being replaced by Stokes as the leadership role took a heavy toll on his form and peace of mind.

England won just one of the last 17 Tests before Root resigned as captain.

The 35-year-old batsman believes he is now in a “different place”, leaving him confident he can improve the mood around the England squad after a turbulent period.

“I never thought I’d be sitting here talking to you again as England captain. No chance… 0.1 percent,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“The only thought that came to my mind was what is best for this team, whether it will have a major effect on me and my personal life and whether it outweighs the other.

“The fact is, it felt like it was the right thing to do to take this on, so I tried to make it as simple as possible. I think I’m in a very different place than when I finished.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity to be captain of this group of players. It’s a match-to-match basis, I think. Let’s look no further than this week.”

England head coach Brendon McCullum refused to be judged on Stokes’ status ahead of Wednesday’s opening day of the second Test.

Amid an England and Wales Cricket Board investigation into the late-night incident, McCullum said on Monday he was concerned for Stokes’ welfare.

Root, who is a close friend of the all-rounder, could lead England again in the third Test at Trent Bridge, which starts just three days after the scheduled finish at the Oval.

“I’ve spoken to him a number of times in the last week,” Root said of Stokes.

“We are good friends and I think they should remain as privileged conversations between me and him.

“When it comes to how Ben feels and how he is, I think those are all questions that he should answer for himself. I’m sure he will do that at the right time and when he is ready.”

Asked whether Stokes could exercise the same authority after ignoring the curfew he helped introduce, Root added: “I’m sure he has that respect for everyone in our dressing room. He’s been a phenomenal leader over the last four years and the way he captained was brilliant.”

“He’s a talismanic player and a great friend to a number of lads, so there’s obviously a huge amount of respect from everyone.”

Elsewhere, uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman James Rew will make his debut in a much-changed England team for the second Test against New Zealand after being called up to replace Jamie Smith on Tuesday.

“Smith has withdrawn from the Test match following the birth of his second child earlier today, allowing him to remain with his partner and family,” the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement.

England won the first Test at Lord’s but Rew, a 22-year-old Somerset player, will be one of three debutants and five substitutes at the Oval.

Fast bowler Sonny Baker and batsman Jordan Cox, who is also a wicketkeeper, had already been called up to replace captain and all-rounder Stokes and bowler Atkinson.

Jofra Archer and Matt Fisher have also been recalled in place of fast bowler Ollie Robinson, who is injured, and spinner Shoaib Bashir, who has been dropped.

Atkinson and Robinson both took seven wickets in the first Test. Last season, Rew, a left-hander, became the youngest Englishman to score ten first-class centuries since Denis Compton in 1939. He has since scored two more.

He was named in the Test squad for one match against Zimbabwe last year and toured Australia as captain of the England Lions side.