England have recalled Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson to their squad for the third and final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, with Stokes also set to resume captaincy after both players missed the previous match due to disciplinary reasons.
ECB clears Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson of violent conduct but issues written warnings
The pair were unavailable for selection in the second Test following an incident at a London nightclub after England’s victory in the series opener. However, after an internal review and disciplinary hearing, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) cleared both players of violent conduct while still issuing written warnings for breaching team conduct standards.
The governing body confirmed that its investigation found no evidence linking Stokes to any physical altercation during the nightclub incident. According to the ECB, the England skipper neither participated in nor witnessed the events in question.
The board also stated that Atkinson was found to have been the victim of unprovoked attacks and did not retaliate during either incident. Despite those findings, both cricketers were deemed to have fallen short of contractual expectations that require England players to uphold the highest standards of behaviour and protect the image of the national team.
As a result, the sanction imposed on the duo included written warnings and exclusion from selection for the second Test, a punishment they have now served before returning to the national setup. Their availability had been anticipated after both players were withdrawn from county commitments ahead of the Trent Bridge encounter, signaling that a return was likely once the disciplinary process concluded.
Brendon McCullum backs Stokes and looks ahead to series finale
England head coach Brendon McCullum publicly supported Stokes throughout the episode, explaining that while the actions surrounding the incident were disappointing, it was important to separate the individual from the situation. McCullum revealed that he had remained in regular contact with Stokes to offer support during the investigation and stressed the importance of allowing the official process to run its course before any conclusions were drawn.
Reflecting on the upcoming third Test, the coach said he was eager to move forward and focus on securing a series victory against a strong New Zealand side. He acknowledged that the past week had been challenging for several people involved but believed finishing the series on a high would represent a significant achievement.
England have also reshaped their squad following the defeat in the second Test at The Oval. Youngsters James Rew and Sonny Baker have been left out, while Henry Crocombe, who had been drafted in as cover for Ollie Robinson, has also been omitted. Wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, who missed the previous Test while on paternity leave, is expected to return to the playing XI and reclaim the gloves.
