Stokes returns as England captain, issues apology to teammates before third Test

Ben Stokes has been reinstated as England's captain for the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge starting Thursday. Stokes, along with pace bowler Gus Atkinson, was absent from the second Test due to a breach of team curfew rules. Both players were cleared of violent conduct but received written warnings from the ECB for their behavior. Stokes expressed regret for the impact of the incident on his teammates, particularly those making their debut. He emphasized the need for the team to focus on performance in the must-win match, which is currently tied at one test each in the series.

• 12:02 PMYahoo Sports — Stokes apologises to team-mates before Test return