Ben Stokes will captain England in the third Rothesay Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, with Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith also restored to the XI for Thursday’s series decider.
The ECB confirmed England’s team two days before the Nottingham Test, making three changes from the side beaten at The Kia Oval on Sunday. Stokes returns at No.7 and resumes the captaincy, Smith comes back as wicketkeeper, and Atkinson rejoins a seam attack that also includes Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue.
England’s top six is Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Smith, leaving the recalled captain to balance the side beneath them. Shoaib Bashir is retained as the frontline spinner.
England restore balance for New Zealand finale
The selection gives England a more familiar shape after a disruptive week around availability and leadership. Root had led the side as interim captain at The Oval, but Stokes’ return immediately sharpens both the bowling options and the dressing-room hierarchy for a match England need to control from the first morning.
Atkinson’s inclusion is just as significant. With Archer already back in the Test side, England now have extra pace and bounce for Trent Bridge, while Smith’s recall strengthens the middle order and settles the wicketkeeping position.
The ECB named England’s XI as Duckett, Gay, Bethell, Root, Brook, Smith, Stokes, Atkinson, Archer, Tongue and Bashir.
