Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson Return As ECB Announces England Squad For 3rd Test Vs NZ

Stokes, Atkinson back in ENG squad vs NZ [Source: AFP]

In a significant development, the ECB announced the England squad for the third Test against New Zealand on Sunday, June 21. Ben Stokes returned to the team as the captain, while Gus Atkinson also found a place after missing out on selection for the second Test at the Oval. 

It's worth mentioning that Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson missed the second Test against New Zealand after the ECB initiated a probe into the infamous nightclub scandal involving these two players. 

However, after England's crushing defeat at the Oval under Joe Root's captaincy, head coach Brendon McCullum confirmed that Stokes would make his way back to the team as the skipper for the decider, starting on June 25. 

Why had ECB dropped Stokes and Atkinson from 2nd Test vs New Zealand?

Led by Ben Stokes, England crushed New Zealand in the first Test at Lord's, taking a crucial 1-0 lead in the three-match series. After his side's incredible performance, Stokes revealed that he would celebrate the victory with his teammates. 

Also Read: Ben Stokes Opts Out Of Playing In Middle Of Match

However, as Stokes and Atkinson went to the Rex Rooms nightclub in Chelsea, the ECB found them guilty of violating the mandatory midnight curfew, which the board had imposed following England's Ashes defeat in Australia. 

Stokes and Atkinson allegedly had an altercation with a Saracens rugby player, leaving an ECB security guard injured. The ECB immediately launched an investigation into the matter, preventing Stokes and Atkinson from participating in the second Test against New Zealand. 

ECB gives a clean chit to Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson

In its latest statement, the ECB revealed that neither Ben Stokes nor Gus Atkinson initiated the fight with the Saracens rugby player at the Rex Rooms nightclub. 

Based on the evidence, the board concluded that Stokes was neither involved in the verbal spat nor witnessed these incidents. 

The ECB also tagged Gus Atkinson as a victim of the scandalous brawl, giving him a clean chit to participate in the Test series decider against New Zealand. 

"No blame should be attached to the players for violent conduct at the nightclub. Stokes was not involved in the altercation and did not witness either incident. The evidence the ECB has seen demonstrates that Atkinson was the victim of unprovoked attacks and did not retaliate on either occasion," the ECB statement read. 

Which players have Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson replaced in England squad?

Ben Stokes returned to the England Test squad vs New Zealand, replacing young batter James Rew. 

Hailed as one of the most promising batting prospects, James Rew managed 39 runs across two innings in the Oval Test, averaging 19.50 in his maiden outing. 

Meanwhile, Gus Atkinson replaced Sonny Baker in the England Test squad vs New Zealand. Baker could bag only three wickets at a miserable economy of 4.71 in the second Test, which the hosts lost by a whopping margin of 253 runs. 

England's squad for third Test vs New Zealand

Ben Stokes (C), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue

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