England captain Ben Stokes with coach Brendon McCullum (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
New Delhi: England captain Ben Stokes is set to return for the third Test against New Zealand in Nottingham after missing the second match, which ended in a crushing 253-run defeat for England at The Oval. Head coach Brendon McCullum has confirmed that Stokes will resume captaincy of the team despite an ongoing disciplinary investigation into a breach of team rules earlier this month.
Stokes and fast bowler Jos Atkinson were ruled out of the second Test after violating a curfew imposed by the team following England’s win in the series opener. During his time away from the national team, Stokes featured for Durham and impressed with a quick-fire 95 against Northamptonshire.
He and Atkinson were later withdrawn from the county matches, sparking speculation of a return.Confirming the captain’s return, McCullum said: “Ben will be back. He will be back and he will be a captain.”“I think everyone is excited about it, especially after seeing him achieve at some level with Durham.”“I’ve been speaking to Ben every day since our accident and my assessment was that I was worried about him.
To see him go out there and play some cricket and look like he was enjoying himself is a really positive thing.He added: “I will not disclose our conversations because they are confidential, but it is great to see him back playing and I look forward to seeing him in a couple of days.”
Relationship questions are dismissed
Recent reports suggested that tensions had developed between McCullum and Stokes following England’s Ashes defeat and the disciplinary case. However, the coach insisted that their relationship remained strong.“We have worked closely together for four years, achieving some great things and letting ourselves down in others.“We’ve had robust conversations along the way and that’s to be expected when you’re in leadership positions. There’s mutual respect there.”McCollum also stressed that mistakes cannot be ignored, saying: “It’s really important to separate the actions from the man… You address it and try to move forward.”Stokes’ return could provide England with a timely boost as they look to bounce back in the decider.