Stokes Returns as England Chase Series Win

Ben Stokes is back behind the England captain’s gloves for the crucial third Test against New Zealand, after receiving a written warning alongside teammate Gus Atkinson for a late-night incident that led to their suspension in the second Test. Though neither was blamed for any violence—Stokes wasn’t even present during the altercation, and Atkinson faced an unprovoked situation without retaliating—the ECB said they breached conduct and contractual obligations. England lost that Test by 253 runs, tying the series, while Joe Root stepped in as captain and reached 14,000 Test runs, joining cricket’s elite. Stokes bounced back with a sparkling 95 in a county match, likely securing his spot for the high-stakes showdown at Trent Bridge on June 25, where England needs a win to claim the series. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c64ee15b562af506