Fast bowler Josh Tongue has conceded that the England cricket team has felt the loss of captain Ben Stokes, as they face a probable defeat in the second Test against New Zealand. Both Stokes and Gus Atkinson were sidelined from the match at The Oval due to an ongoing investigation into a late-night incident at a London nightclub.
Despite their international suspension, both players remain eligible for county duty. Stokes recently showcased a return to form by scoring 95 for Durham against Northamptonshire, marking his most productive innings in nearly a year. Tongue, who made his international debut under Stokes’ leadership, praised his captain’s quality and expressed admiration for his recent batting performance.
England’s struggles at The Oval have been compounded by the absence of their regular leader. Facing a daunting target of 463 runs, the hosts finished the fourth day at 182-5, kept in the game largely by Joe Root’s unbeaten 75. Due to the unavailability of Stokes and other personnel issues—including injuries and paternity leave—England fielded a squad with its lowest number of combined caps in nearly two decades.
Tongue highlighted the difficulty of replacing a player of Stokes’ profile, noting that his dual role as a leader and all-rounder provides essential team balance. While Joe Root has stepped in to captain the side, the squad is clearly feeling the void left by the absent pair. Stokes and Atkinson were caught breaching a curfew after the first Test victory at Lord’s and were present when a security staff member was assaulted by a professional rugby player. Both men are currently cooperating with investigations and may return for the third Test at Trent Bridge.
