Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson are withdrawn from the remainder of their respective County Championship matches, with multiple reports describing the move as a strong indication they will be available for England’s third Test against New Zealand. BBC, Sky News and Yahoo Sports all say the withdrawals are the clearest sign yet that the pair are being held back for England selection. Sky Sports similarly reports that they are taken out of county action as England returns loom.
The Guardian adds that the decision is made “at request of the ECB,” citing statements from their counties: Stokes is withdrawn from Durham’s match against Northamptonshire, and Colin Ackermann replaces him in the Durham XI. Other reporting also frames the withdrawals within ongoing England planning after recent disciplinary-related issues during the second Test, noting the players were sidelined after breaking curfew and that their situations remain under review as England looks to respond to a defeat at The Oval. Overall, the common detail across outlets is that both players step out of county games and are expected to move closer to England’s Test squad.
