Stokes to captain England in final Test as Atkinson also returns

Ben Stokes will return to captain England for the series-deciding third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge with Gus Atkinson also back after both players missed the 253-run thumping at The Oval following a nightclub incident. Stokes and Atkinson were made unavailable for the second Test following an episode in the early hours the day after England's 115-run victory at Lord's, with an investigation launched.

The ECB said on Sunday afternoon that "no blame should be attached to the players for violent conduct at the nightclub", with Atkinson the "victim of an unproved attacks and did not…