Ben Stokes named in Durham squad to face Northamptonshire
The England captain was not considered for the second Test against New Zealand after breaking a team curfew.
England Test captain Ben Stokes is set to return to competitive action on Friday after being named in the Durham squad to face Northamptonshire.
Stokes was not considered for selection for the ongoing second Test against New Zealand after breaching a team curfew following the series opener at Lord’s. He and fast bowler Gus Atkinson remain under investigation over an incident which took place at a London nightspot in the early hours, with the matter also referred to the independent Cricket Regulator.
The 35-year-old all-rounder was quick to rejoin his clubmates in training, signalling his intention to play in this week’s Division Two County Championship clash at Chester-le-Street.
The England and Wales Cricket Board agreed to make him available, removing the last potential hurdle to his involvement in the four-day clash, and he was duly included in a 15-strong group released on Thursday.
Stokes has made only one public intervention since the episode blew up 11 days ago, wishing England and their three debutants well at the Kia Oval via a brief Instagram message.
Head coach Brendon McCullum appeared to raise concerns over his wellbeing in a pre-Test press conference, where he repeatedly voiced his “worry” and “concern” for the absent skipper. But Durham’s coach Ryan Campbell offered a different perspective after working alongside Stokes.
He told BBC Radio Newcastle: “Ben knows he made a mistake and broke the curfew, but some of the reaction has been a little over (the top).
“From what I’ve seen, he’s in good spirits, he’s back in training, working hard and the rest will take care of itself. Ben is a competitor and he loves to play and he wants to play.”
Stokes made two appearances earlier this season for Durham, scoring 59 runs in two innings and claiming five wickets, but has not featured on home soil since 2024.
It is not clear whether he will be considered for the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge starting next Wednesday, with the England and Wales Cricket Board yet to clarify his status.
England great Lord Ian Botham feels Stokes might decide to “walk away” from the sport should he be stripped of the captaincy.
“It wouldn’t surprise me, if Ben did lose the captaincy, he probably might walk away from the game, but I just don’t know,” Botham said on The Overlap and Betfair’s Stick to Cricket show, which will be broadcast in full on Tuesday morning.
“To be honest with you, it was an unnecessary procedure and one that I think he will regret.”
Botham feels there is no justification for the latest incident of ill-discipline.
“Some people just don’t learn, do they?” he added. “Everybody supported him, but I really can’t see how you can justify what happened after the game. We used to love going out for a drink but we weren’t quite so obvious.”