London, June 18 -- England Test skipper Ben Stokes will play for Durham this week in the County Championship after being dropped from the playing XI of the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval due to a team protocol breach, reported ESPNCricinfo.

Stokes has been named in Durham's 15-man line-up for the Division Two County Championship fixture against Northamptonshire starting from Friday at Chester-le-Street. His availability comes amid the ongoing investigation being done by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), alongside another by Cricket Regulator, as he and pacer Gus Atkinson "broke the midnight curfew" following win in the first Test at Lord's, with an ECB security liaison in need of medical attention after a nightclub frac...