Ben Stokes Returns to Action with Durham Amid Ongoing ECB Investigation

Ben Stokes will make his return to action for Durham after being named in their squad for the County Championship match against Northamptonshire on Friday. England captain Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson are unavailable for the ongoing second Test against New Zealand pending an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub. But both are permitted to play domestic cricket, so Stokes is with his county for the match against Northants at Chester-le-Street and Atkinson is expected to be in the Surrey squad for their trip to Glamorgan. Stokes and Atkinson broke the England team's midnight curfew while celebrating victory in the first Test at Lord's. They were present when a member of the England security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player. Both men are subject to investigations from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Cricket Regulator. The pair have been spoken to by the Regulator and the ECB are hoping for a swift resolution.