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England Test captain Ben Stokes is in line to make his first county appearance in two years at Blackpool CC.

Having had an extended break after the conclusion of England’s Test tour of India, the 32-year-old is set to face Lancashire when Durham travel to Stanley Park later this week.

The four-day County Championship match gets underway on Friday and offers the prospect of Stokes coming face to face with Nathan Lyon.

The Australian spinner, who sat out the Red Rose’s defeat against Nottinghamshire, is expected to return in a match featuring a number of would-be England bowlers.

Nathan Lyon and Ben Stokes are in line to meet each other when Blackpool CC stages the County Championship match between Lancashire and Durham later this week Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

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Lancashire could select Tom Hartley and Saqib Mahmood, while Durham have Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse – two more bowlers hoping to replace James Anderson when he retires later this summer – in their ranks.

Durham coach Ryan Campbell told BBC Radio Newcastle: “I suggest if you’ve got a few days over the weekend, you get yourself down to Blackpool to watch the great Ben Stokes return for Durham.

“Suddenly there’s just this air of excitement around the place, just when he walks in the room.

“You want to play against the best players in the world but to have one of those in our own team, to show us the way, his experiences, it’s unbelievable.

“For us we always talk about playing against the best players in the competition, but to have one in your own team makes life a whole lot different.

“It will also lift the blokes. Some of them haven’t played with Ben for years, if at all.

“I’m sure the crowds in Blackpool will swell. England cricket needs a fit Ben Stokes.”

England skipper due to make Durham return at Blackpool Cricket Club