Ben Stokes returns to captain England as playing XI for third Test announced

In a major development, England have announced the playing XI for the third and final Test of the series against New Zealand, with Ben Stokes returning to the side after a heated controversy of the nightclub incident has cooled down, with the ECB outlining that the curfew guidelines were weak for players to interpret with clarity. Gus Atkinson, Stokes' partner-in-crime, has also made a comeback to the XI.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, who had taken a break for the second Test due to familial duties, has also made a return and will be playing the series finale, which will get underway on Thursday, June 25, at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham. As the fourth change, Shoaib Bashir has been added to the squad, replacing Matthew Fisher.

Joe Root, who led the Three Lions in the mainstay skipper's void, will move back to being the specialist batter. Stokes' comeback means much more to the English side, as they are also in search of a win in Nottingham, which could further help them win the series as well, currently levelled at 1-1.

"What will be will be from a results POV. We're desperate to win, but at the time what will be will be. How can we hold our nerves during those moments and have absolute clarity to make the right decisions to give ourselves the best chance? If we do that, then we are a good chance of getting the prize that we want," Stokes was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.

Speaking more of the series, the Englishmen won the opening Test under Stokes' captaincy, following which the nightclub incident also unfolded. The next clash was held at the Kennington Oval in London, where the visitors reigned supreme, winning by a mammoth 253-run margin in a contest that went to the last day. The Nottingham Test, as a result, is set to be a mouthwatering series-decider.

England playing XI for third Test vs New Zealand

Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (WK), Ben Stokes (C), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir