Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson withdrawn from County Championship games

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from their County Championship fixtures in the clearest indication yet they will be available to play for England in the third Test against New Zealand.

Captain Stokes and pace bowler Atkinson were made unavailable for the second Test, which started on Wednesday, pending an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub.

But both were permitted to play domestic cricket, with Stokes turning out for Durham and Atkinson for Surrey in the first two days of matches that began on Friday.

They have been withdrawn before day three, meaning Stokes will play no further part in Durham's match at home to Northamptonshire and Atkinson has left Surrey's game at Glamorgan.

It emerged on Thursday that Stokes is likely to return to captain England for the third Test at Trent Bridge, alongside 28-year-Atkinson.

The investigations into the pair breaking England's midnight curfew in the aftermath of the victory over New Zealand at Lord's are still to be completed.

No official confirmation of the outcome of the investigation, or an England squad for the third Test, is expected until the conclusion of the second Test at The Oval, where the home side are set for a heavy defeat on Sunday's final day.

More to follow.

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