England Test captain Ben Stokes is set to return to competitive action after being included in Durham’s 15-man squad for their upcoming County Championship clash against Northamptonshire at Chester-le-Street, which begins on Friday.The all-rounder has not featured since being left out of England’s ongoing second Test against New Zealand at The Oval. Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were both omitted from the match while investigations continued into a nightclub incident in London following England’s victory in the opening Test at Lord’s.Despite the ongoing inquiries, both players have now been cleared to participate in domestic cricket. Stokes is expected to represent Durham in the Championship fixture, while Atkinson is likely to return for Surrey in their match against Glamorgan in Cardiff.The controversy stemmed from events after England’s 115-run win over New Zealand in the first Test. Stokes and Atkinson were found to have breached the team’s midnight curfew while celebrating the victory and were present at a nightclub when a member of England’s security staff was allegedly struck by a player from Saracens Rugby Club.Investigations into the incident are continuing, with both the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the independent Cricket Regulator conducting separate reviews.In the days following the controversy, speculation emerged regarding Stokes’ long-term future in international cricket, with some reports even linking the England skipper to a potential retirement. However, those concerns eased considerably after the 35-year-old resumed training with Durham.His appearance against Northamptonshire will mark only his third county outing of the season and could provide a timely boost ahead of England’s next international assignment.With Stokes unavailable for the second Test against New Zealand, Joe Root has stepped in as captain on a match-by-match basis.England’s third and final Test of the series begins at Trent Bridge next Thursday, meaning a decision on the availability of both Stokes and Atkinson is expected in the coming days. Clarity over the ongoing investigations will likely be required before the start of the match, with Monday shaping up as a key date in determining their involvement.
