Ben Stokes: England Test captain to return for Durham

The ECB revealed Stokes and Atkinson are under investigation in a statement released on 8 June.

In the immediate aftermath, there were concerns the 35-year-old may retire.

Those fears were allayed when he returned to training with Durham on Saturday and Stokes is now due to play for them for the third time this season.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, two days before England’s second Test against New Zealand at The Oval, head coach Brendon McCullum would not be drawn on Stokes’ future as an England player or captain.

The New Zealander did, however, repeatedly mentioned his “worry” and “concern” for Stokes.

In contrast, on Wednesday, Durham head coach Ryan Campbell said Stokes is in “good spirits”.

In Stokes’ absence, Joe Root is captaining England, a job Root said he is taking on a “game by game” basis.

England’s third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge begins next Thursday, so an update on the investigations and availability of Stokes and Atkinson would need to come by Monday at the latest.

If the pair are made available and are subsequently selected in the England squad for the third Test, they could be withdrawn from their county fixtures and replaced by other players.