NEW DELHI: England captain Ben Stokes is set to return for the third Test against New Zealand in Nottingham after missing the second game, which ended in a 253-run defeat for England at The Oval. Head coach Brendon McCullum confirmed that Stokes will continue as captain despite an ongoing disciplinary investigation into a breach of team rules earlier this month.Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were left out of the second Test after breaching a team curfew following England’s first series win. While out of the national team, Stokes played for Durham and impressed with a quick knock of 95 against Northamptonshire. Both he and Atkinson were subsequently withdrawn from their respective county games, prompting speculation of a comeback.Confirming the captain’s return, McCullum said: “Ben will be back. He will be back and he will be the captain.”“I think everyone is excited about it, especially after seeing him hit some form for Durham.”“I’ve spoken to Ben every day since we had the incident and my assessment was that I’m worried about him. To see him go out and play cricket and look like he’s enjoying himself is really positive.“I won’t give away our conversations because they are confidential, but it’s great to see him playing again and I’m looking forward to seeing him in a few days.”
Relationship questions dismissed
Recent reports suggest that tensions have developed between McCullum and Stokes following England’s Ashes defeat and the disciplinary issue. However, the coach insisted that their relationship remained strong.“We worked closely together for four years, accomplished some great things, and let ourselves down on other things.“We’re having strong conversations all the way, and that’s to be expected when you’re in a leadership position. There’s mutual respect there.”McCullum also stressed that mistakes cannot be ignored, saying: “It’s really important to separate the actions from the man… You deal with it and you try to move on.”Stokes’ return could provide England with a timely boost as they look to bounce back in the deciding series.
