Durham coach Ryan Campbell backs Ben Stokes amid ECB investigation
Quick Look
- Durham head coach Ryan Campbell has offered his full support to England Test captain Ben Stokes, who is under investigation by the ECB for breaking a midnight curfew.
- Campbell stated Durham's door is always open for Stokes and that he is in good spirits and working hard.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
England Test captain Ben Stokes has been dropped for the second Test against New Zealand and is under ECB investigation for breaking a midnight curfew. Durham coach Ryan Campbell has publicly supported Stokes.
Durham head coach Ryan Campbell has offered his full support to England Test captain Ben Stokes, saying Durham's door "is always open" for him.
Campbell added that Stokes was in "good spirits and working hard" while training with his county.
Stokes was dropped by England for the second Test with New Zealand at The Oval starting on Wednesday.
He is under investigation by the ECB after he and team-mate Gus Atkinson broke a midnight curfew following victory over the Black Caps in the first Test at Lord's.
The 35-year-old could now play for Durham in their County Championship match against Northamptonshire on Friday.
"Our doors are always open for any of our Durham boys," Campbell told BBC Radio Newcastle.
"If Ben happens to walk through it, I will definitely be waiting there with arms open wide."
Stokes' future as Test captain is uncertain with England head coach Brendon McCullum not offering any guarantees when he faced the media on Monday.
But Stokes has the full backing of Australian Campbell, who has been unimpressed at how his player has been treated since news of the incident in a London nightclub emerged last week.
"Ben knows he made a mistake and broke the curfew, but some of the reaction has been a little over," Campbell added.
"I'm a bit old school, I like a beer after a game of cricket if you've got 10 days off but I'm not the coach, I don't run that system."
Stokes played two county games for Durham in the run-up to the New Zealand series and Campbell has already suggested he has a "75% chance" of featuring against Northants.
With his availability for the third Test at Trent Bridge, starting on 25 June, uncertain, the four-day Championship game could be Stokes' last red-ball cricket before the Test series with Pakistan in mid-August.
"Ben is a competitor and he loves to play and he wants to play," Campbell said. "He put his hand up and said he made a mistake.
"From what I've seen, he's in good spirits, he's back in training, working hard and the rest will take care of itself."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Ben Stokes will play for Durham against Northamptonshire.
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What will the ECB's final decision be?
- Will Stokes play for Durham?
- What is the long-term impact on Stokes' captaincy?
