Stokes to captain England in final Test as Atkinson also returns

England vs New Zealand: Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson return for deciding Test at Trent Bridge after nightclub incident Sunday 21 June 2026 15:44, UK Ben Stokes will return to captain England for the series-deciding third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge with Gus Atkinson also back after both players missed the 253-run thumping at The Oval following a nightclub incident. Stokes and Atkinson were made unavailable for the second Test following an episode in the early hours the day after England's 115-run victory at Lord's, with an investigation launched. The ECB said on Sunday afternoon that "no blame should be attached to the players for violent conduct at the nightclub", adding that Atkinson was the "victim of unproved attacks and did not retaliate". - England thrashed by 253 runs as New Zealand level Test series - Scorecard: England vs New Zealand, second Test, The Oval - Got Sky? Watch England vs NZ live on the Sky Sports app - Not got Sky? Get instant access with NOW - no contract The pair broke a midnight curfew that had been introduced after drinking incidents plagued the team's winter tours, including Harry Brook being punched by a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand. Stokes and Atkinson did play county cricket this week, for Durham and Surrey respectively, but were withdrawn from the final two days of their games ahead of their potential England comebacks. Stokes smashed 95 off 118 balls against Northamptonshire, while Atkinson - who took a five-wicket haul for England against New Zealand at Lord's - struck four times for Surrey against Glamorgan. Joe Root captained England at The Oval, where Stokes and Atkinson's absence from the bowling unit - as well that of Ollie Robinson (knee injury) - was keenly felt as a youthful attack toiled. Robinson and Jamie Smith - the latter sat out the second Test on paternity leave after the birth of his second child - are also in a 15-player squad for the match in Nottingham from Thursday. Rew and Baker left out of squad as big guns return England fielded three debutants in London with Hampshire seamer Sonny Baker, Essex batter Jordan Cox and Somerset wicketkeeper James Rew pressed into action after a chaotic build-up. Rew endured a pretty torrid time, dropping two catches and making scores of 24 and 15, while Cox was out for 27 and 25. Baker recorded match bowling figures of 3-161 from 34.1 overs, at an economy rate of 4.71. Baker and Rew have been left out of the party for the third Test. Pace bowler Mathew Fisher, who claimed five wickets in the game, also played just his second Test, and first since appearing on the tour of West Indies in the spring of 2022 before Stokes and Brendon McCullum were installed as captain and coach respectively. England omitted frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir at The Oval as they struggled to balance the side without all-rounder Stokes but could perhaps have done with him as part-timer Jacob Bethell bagged four wickets in the match. Bashir could return at Trent Bridge with England potentially picking the exact same side that thrashed New Zealand at Lord's, if Robinson is back to full fitness by then. Bashir did play at Lord's, although did not bowl a ball as the seamers dominated. Leg-spinning all-rounder Rehan Ahmed is another spin option. Jofra Archer came into the XI at The Oval for his first red-ball outing since the 4-1 Ashes thrashing over the winter, having missed the series opener against New Zealand following an IPL stint with Rajasthan Royals. Had the nightclub incident not occurred, and Robinson not tweaked his knee, Archer may have been rested at The Oval, too, so he could now be given a breather in the Midlands. Watch the third Test between England and New Zealand, at Trent Bridge, live from 10am on Thursday (11am first ball) on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. Get instant access with NOW - no contract. England vs New Zealand results and schedule All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports - First Test (Lord's) - England won by 115 runs - Second Test (The Kia Oval) - New Zealand won by 253 runs - Third Test (Trent Bridge) - June 25-29 (11am) [Image text:] ASHES SERIES 2025/26 CATO CASTORE 714