Stokes, Atkinson withdrawn from county matches as England returns loom

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from the remainder of their respective County Championship matches in a clear indication that they will return to the England fold for the final Test against New Zealand.

The ECB confirmed that both players had been withdrawn from their respective domestic matches ahead of the third day's play.

However, it is understood that the investigation into the nightclub incident involving both players is not yet complete.

Ben Stokes stars for Durham as England toil in second Test

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England captain Stokes and fast bowler Atkinson were ‌left out of the second Test against New Zealand after they breached the team's midnight curfew in the early hours of the Monday morning after victory in the first Test and were reportedly present during an incident involving a member of England's security staff and a Saracens player.

Both players were able to still play for their respective counties in the latest round of domestic matches from Friday, with Stokes catching the eye with 95 runs against Northamptonshire on day two on a day England toiled in the fourth day of the second New Zealand Test.

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The ECB had the power to withdraw the players from those fixtures at any stage. Pre-Test training for what strongly appears likely to be a deciding match against New Zealand begins on Tuesday.

The Trent Bridge Test starts on Thursday, live on Sky Sports.

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Reacting to the latest developments on Sunday morning ahead of the final day's play at The Oval, Sky Sports Cricket's Michael Atherton said: "I take that [news] England will expect them to play at Trent Bridge.

"That formal investigation is not yet complete but it's the clearest signal that both will return at Trent Bridge.

ℹ️ Ben Stokes has been withdrawn from the remainder of Durham’s County Championship match against Northamptonshire at the request of the ECB.

Colin Ackermann will replace Stokes in the Durham 11.#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/ykICRxlymz

"If that's the case, if Ben Stokes is able to play, there's no reason why he shouldn't captain, so he'll come back as captain, one assumes.

"And if Ollie Robinson is fit and Jamie Smith is good to go after the birth of his kid, we could have five changes and go back to the team that England played and won at Lord's after this interim period of utter chaos."

Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports News: "The regulator still has to announce what they found from the incident, but it suggests they probably haven't uncovered anything beyond what is already known.

"This week has shown how much England have missed Ben Stokes - not just as a batter or a bowler, but as a cricketer, a captain, and someone who balances the side.

"England were forced to go with spinner Shoaib Bashir because they couldn't find that balance without him. England are a better side with Ben Stokes as their all-rounder and captain."

All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports

First Test (Lord's) - England won by 115 runs

Second Test (The Kia Oval) - June 17-21 (11am)

Third Test (Trent Bridge) - June 25-29 (11am)