England head coach Brendon McCullum has confirmed that Ben Stokes will return to lead the side for the series decider against New Zealand. Photo: AFP
Ben Stokes will return as England captain for next week's third and deciding Test against New Zealand in Nottingham, head coach Brendon McCullum announced Sunday.
Stokes was stood down from England's emphatic 253-run defeat by New Zealand in the second Test at the Oval completed Sunday for breaching a team curfew following his side's win in the series opener at Lord's earlier this month. But McCullum, speaking after New Zealand levelled the three-match series, said: "Ben will be back. He'll be back as captain."
Although absent from the second Test, all-rounder Stokes, 35-years old, was permitted to play for Durham and he made 95 against Northamptonshire in the County Championship on Saturday.
But on Sunday, before play started, both Stokes and Surrey paceman Gus Atkinson, also dropped by England this week for his part in the curfew breach, were both removed from their respective domestic matches in the clearest sign yet they were being primed for a Test recall next week.
