England have slumped to a 253-run defeat against New Zealand on the fifth morning of the second Test, as the return of Ben Stokes for next week's series decider was confirmed.
Soon before play began at the Kia Oval, the England and Wales Cricket Board withdrew Stokes and Gus Atkinson from their county sojourns with Durham and Surrey - a strong indication the pair would be back on parade at Trent Bridge once the investigation into their curfew-breaching night out is complete.
What unfolded in the next 48 minutes suggested a hastily rearranged England team showing five changes from the one Stokes led to victory at Lord's earlier this month was in desperate need of reinforcements.
And coach Brendan McCullum confirmed after play that Stokes would lead England in the third Test, after he made 95 in Durham's county match on Saturday.
