Stokes, who missed the latest round of the County Championship, posted an Instagram story with a tongue-in-cheek caption after Durham's win over Middlesex guaranteed them of the top spot in Division Two. “Probs will go to a pub,” he wrote. “Save yourself the effort of sending smart arse replies to my previous story.”
Stokes, who retired from international cricket after the New Zealand Test series, was filmed exiting a nightclub as his Durham teammate Brydon Carse was being handcuffed by the police in August. He was involved in another episode at a nightclub in Bristol this June along with Gus Atkinson, and had to miss The Oval Test against New Zealand after ECB’s disciplinary probe.
Durham return to Division One in style
Durham had suffered relegation to Division Two in 2025 after managing just two wins in 14 games in the top tier. But they turned the tables in 2026, going unbeaten in 12 matches of the ongoing Division Two season to seal the top spot with 230 points, 55 clear of the second-placed Northamptonshire, with two games left to play.
The 93-run win over Middlesex sealed their promotion. Brydon Carse starred with a nine-wicket match haul in the game, while Ben McKinney’s 184 also steered them towards victory.
The county are currently on a six-match winning streak, having beaten Derbyshire and Northamptonshire twice each, while getting the better of Gloucestershire and Middlesex once during the run.
Durham will face Worcestershire and Lancashire in their two remaining fixtures, which are scheduled to start on September 15 and 24, respectively.
Image credits: Ben Stokes/Instagram
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