England reveal team for third Test as Ben Stokes returns and key seamer left out

FootballSports
23 Jun 2026 • 11:30 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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England reveal team for third Test as Ben Stokes returns and key seamer left out

England seamer Ollie Robinson will miss the third Test against New Zealand cricket as captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson return to the side.

Stokes and Atkinson are back in the XI having been stood down for the second Test defeat at the Oval as the ECB investigated a breach of team curfew, with it subsequently deemed that their absence was sufficient punishment.

Having made a strong return to the side in the opening win at Lord’s, Robinson was ruled out of the second encounter with the Blackcaps due to a knee injury and again sits out.

Jofra Archer retains his place and appears in line to take the new ball alongside Atkinson, while spinner Shoaib Bashir returns having taken five-fors in his last two Tests in Nottingham.

Jamie Smith, meanwhile, is also back having been absent last week due to the birth of his second child, and will take the gloves and bat at No 6.

There is just one change to the side that won at Lord’s, with Archer in for Sussex colleague Robinson.

England XI to face New Zealand at Trent Bridge (from Thursday 25 June): Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

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