VAUGHAN SAYS ECB FIGURES OPPOSE STOKES' RETURN AS CAPTAIN

Michael Vaughan, a former England captain, has stated that he believes people within the England and Wales Cricket Board do not want Ben Stokes to resume the captaincy following the curfew incident that led to Stokes missing the second Test against New Zealand. Vaughan said these individuals have been briefing against Stokes in the aftermath of the incident. Stokes had been absent from the match as a result of the curfew violation.

The curfew breach resulted in Stokes' withdrawal from the Test fixture against New Zealand. Vaughan's comments suggest internal division within the ECB regarding Stokes' future role as captain. The former captain indicated that opposition to Stokes' reinstatement exists among ECB personnel, though he did not name specific individuals or provide details of the alleged briefings.

Vaughan's claims point to broader questions about Stokes' captaincy prospects following the disciplinary incident. The exact timeline for Stokes' potential return and any formal ECB statement on the matter were not detailed in the available information. Stokes' status as captain remains unclear pending further developments from the board.