Ben Stokes expected to play for Durham during England’s second Test

Ben Stokes is expected to play for Durham in the County Championship while England face New Zealand in the second Test at the Oval.

Captain Stokes and his team-mate Gus Atkinson have been dropped for the second Test, which starts on Wednesday, on disciplinary grounds after a breach of the team’s curfew in the hours after the victory over New Zealand at Lord’s on Sunday.

Twin investigations by the England team management and the Cricket Regulator are looking into the matter, which includes an incident involving Totoa Auvaa, a Saracens rugby player.

Stokes is expected to use the time afforded to make a rare appearance for Durham in the Championship. From next Friday, day three of the Test, they face Northamptonshire in a key match in Durham’s challenge for promotion. While his appearance is not yet confirmed, it is expected he will play.

This would keep Stokes’s eye in before the third Test at Trent Bridge on June 25, although it is also expected he will sit that match out, too. The England investigation could have concluded by then, but the regulator’s is unlikely to have.

Durham also had a home match start on Friday, against Derbyshire, but Stokes is not playing in that. He was seen in public for the first time on Thursday, appearing outside his home wearing a Red Bull baseball cap.

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