England skipper Ben Stokes reported early for duty on Friday morning as he prepared to return to action for Durham.
The 35-year-old, who has been stood down from second Test duty against New Zealand at the Oval – along with bowler Gus Atkinson – as a breach of team protocols following the first Test victory over the Kiwis at Lord’s is investigated, arrived at the Banks Homes Riverside ground at 8.40am ahead of the scheduled start of play at 11am.
Head coach Ryan Campbell revealed on Sunday after Durham’s Rothesay County Championship victory over Derbyshire that Stokes could play in the four-day match against Northamptonshire, and the all-rounder was included in a 15-man squad for the game on Thursday.
His impending return comes with suggestions that he could stand down as England captain or even retire, although the furore in the wake of the incident has subsided in recent days.
Indeed, the Press Association understands Stokes could be back among the England fold for the third Test, which gets under way at Trent Bridge next Thursday.
