England Captain Stokes Cleared of Further Sanction but Team Lost Test During His Absence

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson will face no further punishment after the Cricket Regulator determined they had not breached any ECB regulations. The England captain and fast bowler were stood down from the second Test against New Zealand at the Oval after breaching a team curfew at a nightclub in Chelsea.

The ECB investigation concluded that a written warning and missing the game at the Oval constituted sufficient punishment.

The Cricket Regulator stated that it had carefully reviewed all available information and found insufficient evidence to establish that any regulatory breach occurred. Stokes and Atkinson have been named in the England squad for the third Test at Trent Bridge, where Stokes is set to return as captain.

New Zealand defeated England in the second Test to square the series at 1-1, with Joe Root captaining in Stokes's absence.

Stokes is due to speak to the press on Wednesday for the first time since the incident. He made 95 for Durham in the County Championship before being withdrawn ahead of his England return, while Atkinson featured for Surrey. England head coach Brendon McCullum said Stokes will be back and will captain the side.

McCullum added that he has spoken to Stokes every day since the incident and anticipates working well with him.