The China Mail - England captain Stokes strikes for Durham as Test recall looms

Stokes and England team-mate Gus Atkinson were omitted from the ongoing second Test against New Zealand at the Oval after breaking a team curfew to celebrate the hosts' win in the series opener at Lord's.

That decision led to a flurry of speculation over Stokes's international future amid fears the 35-year-old might be stripped of the England captaincy, stand down by himself, or even walk away from representing his country permanently.

But British media reports on Thursday indicated Stokes could return to Test duty as soon as next week's series finale against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

After Durham captain Alex Lees elected to bowl first, Stokes was greeted warmly by the crowd in Chester-le-Street.

And there was more applause when the all-rounder came on as first-change in Durham's attack.

Northamptonshire's Ricardo Vasconcelos clipped the fourth ball of Stokes's first over to Ben McKinney at leg-slip, only for the fielder to drop the catch.

Vasconcelos made Durham pay for that error with an unbeaten 181 in a stumps total of 388-6.

But Stokes did strike late in the day when he had George Bartlett caught at slip for 30 in a return of 1-60 from 18 overs.

Durham chief executive Tim Bostock urged English cricket authorities against imposing a harsh punishment on Stokes.

"I like to think common sense would prevail and he will be back next week to doing what he does best," he told the BBC.

"I don't think there is a cricket fan who doesn't want Ben Stokes leading England."

England coach Brendon McCullum voiced his concern for Stokes's mental well-being before the second Test but Bostock added: "It is just normal Ben.

"I was a little bit bemused by some of the comments about his state of mind and maybe in the first 24 hours when this exploded, I am sure he was thinking 'what has happened here?'.

"He has been absolutely fine, as (Durham coach) Ryan (Campbell) said the other day. He is very positive and is always very positive," he added.

Fast-medium bowler Atkinson, meanwhile, took 2-33 in 15 overs as Surrey reduced Glamorgan to 244-6 in Cardiff on Friday.

L.Johnson--ThChM