England captain Ben Stokes has been named in Durham's squad for the County Championship clash with Northamptonshire, despite being dropped from the England team over a breach of team rules. Stokes was left out of the England squad for the second Test against New Zealand at the Kia Oval as he and Gus Atkinson are investigated over a breach of team rules after breaking curfew following the first encounter of the series at Lord's.
According to Durham head coach Ryan Campbell, Stokes has been training at his county this week and has been named in a 15-man squad for the match at Chester-le-Street. Campbell said, 'Our doors are always open for any of our Durham boys. If Ben happens to walk through it, I will definitely be waiting there with arms open wide.'
Stokes' inclusion in the Durham squad has raised questions about his future as Test captain, with Joe Root appointed stand-in skipper for the Oval Test. However, Stokes appears primed to play for Durham from Friday, with Campbell stating that he is 'in good spirits, he's back in training, working hard and the rest will take care of itself.'
The all-rounder is under investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Cricket Regulator, which may charge him with bringing the game into disrepute. A member of the ECB security staff was allegedly left requiring stitches following an incident in the early hours of last Monday morning also involving a Saracens academy player.
England head coach Brendon McCullum had suggested on Monday that he would leave it up to Stokes to consider whether he wished to play for Durham this week. McCullum said, 'I'm worried about Ben. That's it. I'll leave it at that.'