Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been cleared of blame for violent conduct at a nightclub before returning to England’s squad for the deciding Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the pair had been included in the squad after the conclusion of a disciplinary hearing into their conduct in the early hours of Monday, June 8.
Both players were found to have breached contractual obligations around maintaining high standards and acting in the best interests of England cricket, and both have received written warnings. But the key distinction is that the ECB says no blame should be attached to either player for violent conduct, according to the ECB’s squad update.
England regain Stokes and Atkinson for Trent Bridge
The ECB said Stokes was not involved in the altercation and did not witness either incident. It also said evidence showed Atkinson was the victim of unprovoked attacks and did not retaliate.
The decision clears the immediate selection picture for England after Stokes and Atkinson missed the second Rothesay Test against New Zealand. Stokes is listed as captain for the third Test, with Atkinson also named in the squad for Nottingham.
The return matters because the series now moves to a decider. England get their captain and one of their frontline seamers back, while the disciplinary issue moves from an active investigation to a written-warning matter.
