Ben Stokes has issued an apology to his England team-mates as he prepares to return as captain for the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson missed the second Test, which resulted in a 253-run defeat, due to an investigation into a midnight curfew breach related to an incident in a London nightclub.

Both players have been cleared of "violent conduct" by the Cricket Regulator but received a written warning for breaching their contractual obligations following a disciplinary hearing by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

In Stokes' absence, Joe Root captained the team, which included debutants Sonny Baker, Jordan Cox, and James Rew. Stokes emphasized the impact of his actions on the squad, stating, "It affected Joe, it affected the squad, it affects the people outside the playing environment."

Stokes acknowledged the situation overshadowed the debutants' achievements and expressed the importance of taking responsibility as a leader. He stated, "You need to be big enough and man enough to be able to take that upon your shoulders."

The investigation also sparked scrutiny over Stokes' relationship with head coach Brendon McCullum, who had expressed concern for the all-rounder. However, both have reaffirmed their partnership, with Stokes insisting, "We certainly haven't drifted."

Stokes praised the support he received during the investigation, highlighting the importance of focusing on cricket as the series stands at 1-1. He concluded, "The importance of the result of this game is the one thing we need to concentrate on."