Former England captain Vaughan urges decision on Stokes' captaincy to be made

[p]Captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stokes-ben/bqDhqGMG/"]Stokes[/a] ‌was left out of the ongoing second test along with bowler [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/atkinson-gus/Aodjczhc/"]‌Gus Atkinson[/a] following an investigation into an incident in ‌a London nightclub.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/UJC5mtAU/"]England[/a]'s leading batsman [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/root-joe/EkKzSCk2/"]Joe Root[/a] is interim captain ‌at The Oval but Vaughan says the situation must ‌be resolved quickly.[/p][p]Asked to comment on reports that Stokes could return at Trent Bridge as a player rather than skipper, Vaughan ‌told the BBC's Test Match Special: [b]"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. [/b][b]They need his leadership, his ​all-round ability, having an all rounder balances the side.[/b][/p][p][b]"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."[/b][/p][p]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.[/p][embed guid="6365118a-eec0-4db1-8d57-3b37089ef355" url="https://x.com/TheBarmyArmy/status/2067694295646110178" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Cricket Regulator - a separate body from the ECB - is also conducting an investigation, the ECB have said.[/p][p]In the absence of Stokes, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/G6PWlrQB/"]New Zealand[/a] 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.[/p][p]"[b]I don't understand why we are in this situation still,"[/b] Vaughan added. [b]"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."[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/england-UJC5mtAU/new-zealand-G6PWlrQB/?mid=bcBQ09rn"]Follow the second test between England and New Zealand on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]