Vaughan urges ECB to make decision on Stokes' captaincy

LONDON: Former England captain Michael Vaughan has urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to conclude the investigation on Ben Stokes ahead of the ​third test against New Zealand.

Captain Stokes was left out of the ‌ongoing second test along with bowler Gus Atkinson following an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub.

England’s leading batsman Joe Root is interim captain at The Oval but Vaughan ​says the situation must be resolved quickly.

Asked to comment on reports that ​Stokes could return at Trent Bridge as a player rather ⁠than skipper, Vaughan told Test Match Special: “If he resigns and stands down as ​captain, absolutely that can happen but if he’s not resigning, then if he ​plays at Trent Bridge then England need Ben Stokes as captain.

“They need his leadership, his all-round ability, having an all rounder balances the side.

“I’ve read a few stories that he could ​return as a player only. Nonsense. If Ben Stokes plays at Trent ​Bridge then he has to be captain.”

Stokes and pace bowler Atkinson broke the team’s midnight curfew ‌in ⁠the early hours of the Monday morning after the first test victory at Lord’s and were reportedly present when a member of England’s security staff was involved in an incident with a Saracens rugby player.

The Cricket Regulator – a separate ​body from the ECB – ​is also conducting ⁠an investigation, the ECB have said.

In the absence of Stokes, New Zealand are in a strong position after two ​days of the second test, with England trailing by 169 ​runs with ⁠four first-innings wickets left.

The third test starts at Trent Bridge on June 25.

“I don’t understand why we are in this situation still,” Vaughan added. “I want to hear ⁠from the ​ECB publicly that Ben Stokes is the captain, ​he has done some good stuff for the England side. It’s staggering. If they are sacking ​him then give us a reason why.”