Stokes and Atkinson back for final Test as nightclub incident findings revealed

ECB says disciplinary hearing finds "no blame" should be apportioned to captain Ben Stokes and seam bowler Gus Atkinson after nightclub incident earlier this month; Atkinson was allegedly punched by a Saracens academy rugby player; Stokes and Atkinson missed second Test vs New Zealand

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>Ben Stokes will return to captain England for the series-deciding third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge with Gus Atkinson also back after both players were cleared of violent conduct following a nightclub incident earlier this month.

>Stokes and Atkinson were made unavailable for the second Test at The Kia Oval - which England lost by 253 runs - following an episode in the early hours on Monday June 8, the day after England's 115-run victory at Lord's in the series opener, with an investigation launched.

>The ECB said on Sunday afternoon that a disciplinary process found "no blame" should be attached to the players for the scuffles at the nightclub, adding that fast bowler Atkinson was the "victim of unproved attacks and did not retaliate" and that all-rounder Stokes was not involved in, and did not witness, any altercations.

>Atkinson was allegedly punched by a Saracens academy rugby player, with a member of ECB security staff struck.

>Sky Sports has approached Saracens for comment.

>Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.

>Stokes and Atkinson - who have both been given a written warning after "breaching specific contractual obligations" - broke a midnight curfew that was introduced after drinking incidents plagued the team's winter tours, including Harry Brook being punched by a nightclub bouncer the night before an ODI in New Zealand.

>The pair did play county cricket this week, for Durham and Surrey respectively, but were withdrawn from the final two days of their games ahead of their potential England comebacks.

>McCullum says Stokes relationship not tarnished

>"Stokes and Atkinson were found to have breached specific contractual obligations that require England players to at all times maintain the highest standards of conduct and act in the best interests of England cricket.

>"In addition to not being considered for selection for the second Rothesay Test, they have both been given a written warning as to their conduct.

>"It was also concluded that no blame should be attached to the players for violent conduct at the nightclub.

>"Stokes was not involved in the altercation and did not witness either incident. The evidence the ECB has seen demonstrates that Atkinson was the victim of unprovoked attacks and did not retaliate on either occasion."

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>Stokes smashed 95 off 118 balls against Northamptonshire, while Atkinson - who took a five-wicket haul for England against New Zealand at Lord's - struck four times for Surrey against Glamorgan.

>Joe Root captained England at The Oval, where Stokes and Atkinson's absence from the bowling unit - as well that of Ollie Robinson (knee injury) - was keenly felt as a youthful attack toiled.

>Robinson and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith - the latter sat out the second Test on paternity leave after the birth of his second child - are also in a 15-player squad for the match in Nottingham from Thursday, live on Sky Sports (10am on air, 11am first ball).

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>England fielded three debutants in London with Hampshire seamer Sonny Baker, Essex batter Jordan Cox and Somerset wicketkeeper James Rew pressed into action after a chaotic build-up.

>Baker and Rew have been left out of the party for the third Test.

>Rew endured a pretty torrid time at The Oval, dropping two catches and making scores of 24 and 15, while Cox was out for 27 and 25.

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>Baker recorded match bowling figures of 3-161 from 34.1 overs, at an economy rate of 4.71.

>Pace bowler Mathew Fisher, who claimed five wickets in the game, also played just his second Test, and first since appearing on the tour of West Indies in the spring of 2022 before Stokes and Brendon McCullum were installed as captain and coach respectively.

>England omitted frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir as they struggled to balance the side without Stokes but could perhaps have done with him as part-timer Jacob Bethell bagged four wickets in the match.

>Bashir could return at Trent Bridge with England potentially picking the exact same side that thrashed New Zealand at Lord's, if Robinson is back to full fitness by then.

>Leg-spinning all-rounder Rehan Ahmed is another spin option.

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>Jofra Archer came into the XI at The Oval for his first red-ball outing since the 4-1 Ashes drubbing over the winter, having missed the series opener against New Zealand following an IPL stint.

>Had the nightclub incident not occurred, and Robinson not tweaked his knee, Archer may have been rested at The Oval, too, so he could now be given a breather in the Midlands.

>Watch the third Test between England and New Zealand, at Trent Bridge, live from 10am on Thursday (11am first ball) on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. Get instant access with NOW.

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