Ben Stokes' long-awaited return to the England fold is finally gaining momentum as he takes another giant stride back towards the national team. The Durham skipper and his fast bowler partner-in-crime Gus Atkinson were sensationally stood down from their county match against Northamptonshire, fueling speculation that they'll be back in the Three Lions' fold for next week's crunch third Test at Trent Bridge. It's now a matter of when – not if – Stokes will reclaim his position as England captain and fire up the faltering team with his trademark swagger.
The axe fell after an investigation into a breach of team protocols, specifically the incident where both players breached their curfew in the early hours of June 8. While they were initially given clearance to continue playing county cricket, Stokes and Atkinson have now been withdrawn from their respective fixtures – a move that has sent ripples of excitement through the England camp.
Former skipper Michael Atherton weighed into the debate, calling Stokes' return a 'positive development' for the team. 'It's the clearest signal yet that both will be back at Trent Bridge,' he told Sky Sports Cricket. 'And if Ben Stokes is available to play, there's no reason why he shouldn't captain – it's as simple as that.'
England bowler Josh Tongue chimed in with his own endorsement of the returning star, praising Stokes' incredible talent and leadership qualities. 'Stokesy's an unbelievable player,' Tongue gushed. 'We've missed him, but we've got plenty of leaders in the team – he's one of them.'