England head coach Brendon McCullum has confirmed that Ben Stokes is likely to return as captain for the third Test against New Zealand, following his withdrawal from county duties with Durham. Speaking to Sky Sports after England's heavy defeat in the second Test on Sunday, McCullum stated, "Yeah, at the moment that's what we're planning. The rest of the squad for the third Test will be announced this afternoon once we've told a few of the lads."
Stokes and Atkinson Dropped After Curfew Breach
Both Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson were dropped from the second Test after breaking a team curfew while celebrating England's first Test win at Lord's. Atkinson was also stood down from Surrey's County Championship game on Sunday. McCullum has been in regular contact with Stokes since the incident, saying, "I've been speaking to Ben every day since the incident and have obviously been trying to be supportive. I think it was great he was able to play cricket this week and get some runs. He looked like he had a bit of pep in his step as well. We know a fit, firing Ben Stokes is an asset to every team in the world."
Stokes Withdrawn from Durham Match
Earlier on Sunday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that Stokes had been withdrawn from the remainder of Durham's County Championship match against Northamptonshire at the ECB's request. Colin Ackermann replaced Stokes in the Durham XI. Stokes had played for Durham on Friday, bowling 25 overs, and scored a rapid 95 in a session on Saturday, watched by national selector Marcus North.
McCullum's Concerns and Durham's Reassurance
While McCullum had previously expressed concern over Stokes' state of mind, Durham's coach, Ryan Campbell, offered a more relaxed view. "All I have seen is the same old Ben Stokes who loves being the Durham dressing room, who loves being around a cricket ground and who hasn't missed a beat," Campbell said. Atkinson also performed well in Surrey's game against Glamorgan, taking four wickets for 61, and was replaced by Tom Lawes.
Third Test and Ongoing Investigations
England's third Test against New Zealand starts at Trent Bridge on Thursday. The ECB's investigation into the curfew incident, as well as that of the Cricket Regulator, is yet to conclude. Joe Root, who captained the inexperienced side in the second Test, saw his team struggle as Matt Henry took five wickets to seal England's defeat in under an hour on Sunday.
