Stokes returns to Durham training after England omission

Stokes returns to Durham training after England omissionImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ben Stokes has played two County Championship matches for Durham this summerByStephan ShemiltCricket CorrespondentPublished11 minutes ago2 CommentsBen Stokes returned to training with Durham on Saturday following the nightclub incident that has caused the captain to miss England's second Test against New Zealand.Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson have been made unavailable for the second Test at The Oval, starting on Wednesday, pending an investigation.The pair broke the England team's midnight curfew after the defeat of the Black Caps in the first Test last Sunday. They were present in the early hours of Monday morning when a member of security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player.Stokes, 35, was at Chester-le-Street on Saturday for the second day of Durham's County Championship match against Derbyshire.The all-rounder bowled in the middle before play, then batted in the nets with Durham batting coach Dale Benkenstein. Stokes' county and international team-mate Emilio Gay was also training.Despite the investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) preventing them from playing in the second Test, Stokes and Atkinson are permitted to play domestic cricket.Therefore, the pair could feature in the next round of County Championship matches, beginning on Friday. Durham are at home to Northants, while Atkinson's Surrey are away at Glamorgan.Last Monday, the ECB released a statement confirming Stokes and Atkinson had been involved in a breach of team protocols by breaking the curfew, and that the governing body will investigate.In the immediate aftermath, some reported that Stokes was considering retirement. Those suggestions have since cooled, and the 35-year-old's return to training appears to indicate his playing career will resume.On Thursday, England director of cricket Rob Key was asked if he expected Stokes to play intern...