England captain Ben Stokes (Getty Images)

England Test Captain ben stokes He is set to return to competitive action after being included in Durham’s 15-man squad for the upcoming County Championship clash against Northamptonshire at Chester-le-Street, starting on Friday.The all-rounder has not featured since being dropped from England’s ongoing second Test against New Zealand at The Oval. Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were both ruled out of the match, while an investigation continues into a nightclub incident in London following England’s victory in the opening Test at Lord’s.Despite ongoing inquiries, both players have now been cleared to participate in domestic cricket. Stokes is expected to represent Durham in the Championship match, while Atkinson is likely to return for Surrey in the match against Glamorgan in Cardiff.The controversy arose from events following England’s 115-run victory over New Zealand in the first Test. Stokes and Atkinson were found to have breached the team’s midnight curfew while celebrating the win and were present at a nightclub when a member of England’s security staff was allegedly assaulted by a player from Saracens Rugby Club.The incident remains under investigation, with both the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and independent cricket regulators conducting separate reviews.In the days following the controversy, speculation emerged regarding Stokes’ long-term future in international cricket, with some reports even linking the England captain to possible retirement. However, these concerns were largely eased after the 35-year-old began training with Durham again.His appearance against Northamptonshire will be his third county outing of the season and could provide a timely boost ahead of his next England international assignment.Stokes is not available for the second Test against New Zealand. Joe Root Has stepped in as captain on a match-by-match basis.England’s third and final Test of the series begins next Thursday at Trent Bridge, meaning a decision on the availability of both Stokes and Atkinson is expected to be made in the coming days. With clarity on the ongoing investigation needed before the match begins, Monday will be a crucial date in determining his participation.