Stokes and Atkinson withdrawn from county games
Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from their County Championship fixtures in the clearest indication yet they will be available to play for England in the third Test against New Zealand.
Captain Stokes and pace bowler Atkinson were made unavailable for the second Test, which started on Wednesday, pending an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub.
But both were permitted to play domestic cricket, with Stokes turning out for Durham and Atkinson for Surrey in the first two days of matches that began on Friday.
Stokes, 35, made 95 against Northamptonshire on Saturday, his highest score in any cricket since a century in the fourth Test against India last July.
Atkinson took four wickets in the first innings of Surrey's game at Glamorgan. Both men have been withdrawn before day three of their respective matches, with the third Test at Trent Bridge beginning on Thursday.
It emerged on Thursday that Stokes was likely to return to captain England for the third Test at Trent Bridge, alongside 28-year-Atkinson.
The investigations into the pair breaking England's midnight curfew in the aftermath of the victory over New Zealand at Lord's are still to be completed.
No official confirmation of the outcome of the investigation, or an England squad for the third Test, is expected until the conclusion of the second Test at The Oval, where the home side are set for a heavy defeat on Sunday's final day.
Without Stokes and Atkinson, and with Ollie Robinson absent injured and Jamie Smith on paternity leave, England were forced into five changes from the team that won the first Test.
And an inexperienced XI including three debutants has been exposed by New Zealand, who look set to level the series at 1-1 to force a decide at Trent Bridge.
On Saturday, pace bowler Josh Tongue admitted England have "missed" Stokes.
"Stokesy is an unbelievable player," said Tongue. "I made my England debut when he was captain. I've got huge respect for Stokesy and it's always nice seeing him get some runs."
More to follow.
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