Ben Stokes has shifted his focus entirely to securing a series victory for England in the decisive third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, following a turbulent two weeks for the team. Stokes, who returned to the captaincy after being sidelined for the second Test, was reinstated on Sunday after investigations into a nightclub incident on June 8 found him and fast bowler Gus Atkinson in breach of team curfew rules.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) along with the Cricket Regulator conducted inquiries into the incident, which took place after England’s first Test win against New Zealand at Lord’s. Both Stokes and Atkinson received written warnings for failing to meet their contractual obligations, though neither was found culpable for an altercation involving a Saracens rugby player at the venue.

During Stokes’s absence, England suffered a heavy 253-run defeat at The Oval under stand-in captain Joe Root, a former England skipper. Addressing the media prior to the start of the final Test, Stokes acknowledged the distraction the episode had caused but emphasized his commitment to leading the team toward a series win.

“This has been something that has obviously taken a lot of attention away from the series,” Stokes said. “I want to make sure my focus is where it needs to be. I’m here as captain of this team, and all I’m trying to do is get the team focused on winning the series this week.”

Stokes took personal responsibility for the disruption caused by the investigation, noting that he had apologised to his teammates. “It affects more than just myself,” he said. “It affected Joe Root, the squad, the people outside the playing environment. It no doubt had an effect on lads who were making their debut.”

Speculation about tensions between Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, who together introduced England’s aggressive "Bazball" strategy in 2022, also emerged amid recent poor team results. England have lost six of their last eight Tests, prompting questions about the strength of their partnership. Stokes dismissed claims of a rift, describing McCullum as both a professional colleague and a close friend.

“We’ve built a rapport and a relationship and we’ve been through some testing times, we’ve been through some great times,” Stokes said. He acknowledged occasional disagreements but insisted they did not indicate any fundamental divide.

Stokes also expressed support for Root, who faced criticism for his tactical decisions during England’s defeat at The Oval. “To see him stand up and take that responsibility on last week showed a lot about his character,” Stokes said. “For me as his friend, it was hard to see the reaction that he got.”

With Stokes and Atkinson both cleared to return, England aim to regroup and salvage the series at Trent Bridge, where the upcoming Test will decide the outcome. “Right now my focus is on the team and on the series,” Stokes said. “We are all in a three-match series, this week is massive for this team regardless of what’s going on.”