Stokes, Atkinson withdrawn from county matches as England returns loom

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from the remainder of their respective County Championship matches in a clear indication that they will return to the England team for the final Test against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The ECB confirmed that both players had been withdrawn from their respective domestic matches ahead of the third day's play on Sunday morning.

However, it is understood that the investigation into the nightclub incident involving both players is not yet complete. The squad for the concluding Test, which takes place at Trent Bridge from Thursday with the series level at 1-1, has also not yet been announced.

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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 when the latest round of domestic fixtures got under way on Friday.

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Stokes caught the eye with 95 runs against Northamptonshire on Saturday on a day England toiled in the fourth day of the second Test, while Atkinson claimed 4-61 in Surrey's game at Glamorgan.

The ECB had the power to withdraw the players from those fixtures, which are due to finish on Monday, at any stage.

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With the New Zealand series now level after the visitors secured a crushing 253-run victory at The Oval, Pre-Test training for the Trent Bridge decider starts on Tuesday.

The five-day Test in Nottingham is live on Sky Sports, with the first ball at 11am on Thursday.

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'This week has shown how much England have missed Stokes'

Reacting to the latest developments on the eve of the final day's play starting at The Oval, Sky Sports Cricket's 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."

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Fellow former England captain Michael Atherton said: "I take [that to mean] 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.

"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."

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England vs New Zealand results and schedule

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) - New Zealand won by 253 runs

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

Watch the first day of the deciding third Test between England and New Zealand live on Sky Sports Cricket from Thursday, with first ball at 11am. Stream with NOW.