England Recall Stokes and Atkinson for Third Test After ECB Hearing Concludes

BEN STOKES and Gus Atkinson have been included in the England Men's squad for the third Rothesay Test against New Zealand following the conclusion of an ECB disciplinary hearing in relation to their conduct in the early hours of Monday 8 June.

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 the 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.

The pair return with the three-match series level at one apiece, New Zealand having won the second Rothesay Test at the KIA Oval by 253 runs. The third Test gets under way at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Thursday.

England Men's Third Test Squad

• 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

Photo: Mattbuck, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons