England skipper Ben Stokes in Durham squad for top-of-the-table clash with Northants
Ben Stokes has been named in the Durham squad to take on Northants in the Rothesay County Championship Division Two at Chester-Le-Street on Friday.
The England captain is serving a one-match suspension enforced by the England & Wales Cricket Board for breaching a team curfew in the aftermath of the first Test win against New Zealand at Lord's a fortnight ago.
That led to him sitting out the ongoing second Test at the Oval, and he returned to the north east to train with his Durham team-mates instead.
Head coach Ryan Campbell said earlier in the week Stokes could be involved against Northants, and the 35-year-old has been named in a strong-looking 15-man squad to take on the County.
Durham go into the match off the back of a three-day win over Derbyshire and sitting 18 points clear of second-placed Northants at the top of the division two table.
They are the only unbeaten team in first-class cricket in the country, and will be looking to lay down a marker against closest rivals Northants.
Laying down a marker will also be the target for Darren Lehmann and his squad, who have won their past eight matches in all competitions.
Northants are also boosted by the return to their ranks of key man Ben Sanderson.
The experienced seam bowler sat out last weekend's win over Gloucestershire to manage his workload, but he is named for the trip to Durham, with Raphy Weatherall dropping out.
Lewis McManus also missed the Gloucestershire date after suffering a broken toe, and he too is recalled for Friday's game, but his injury will be assessed on the morning of the match.
If he doesn't pass the fitness test, then Ricardo Vasconcelos will continue to deputise behind the stumps.
Australian pace bowler Harry Conway will play the final game of his eight-match stint for Northants before returning home.
It is going to be a big test of the County's promotion credentials, and Lehmann admitted: "Durham will be full strength and they will probably have Ben Stokes as well, which is great.
"It is great for the game to see the England captain playing, and for us it is a great challenge to see where we sit."
Play is due to start on Friday at 11am.
Northants squad v Durham: Luke Procter (c), George Bartlett, Justin Broad, Harry Conway, Liam Guthrie, Calvin Harrison, Lewis McManus, Nathan McSweeney, James Sales, Ben Sanderson, George Scrimshaw, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Saif Zaib
Durham squad: Colin Ackermann, Kasey Aldridge, David Bedingham, Graham Clark, Alex Lees (c), Ben McKinney, James Minto, Duanne Olivier, Callum Parkinson, Matthew Potts, Ben Raine, Will Rhodes, Luke Robinson, Ollie Robinson (wk), Ben Stokes.