Ben Stokes serves timely reminder of value after Test axing

Having been left out of England’s squad for the ongoing second Test against New Zealand, Ben Stokes showed exactly why he remains central to the Three Lions’ red‑ball framework.

On Saturday at Chester‑le‑Street, the 35‑year‑old produced a defiant 95 off 118 balls for Durham against Northamptonshire in the County Championship Division Two. Batting at No. 5, Stokes walked in with his side reeling at 30/3 and trailing by 420 runs in their first innings. 

What followed was vintage Stokes: counterattacking stroke‑play, crisp boundaries, and a partnership that steadied the ship.

He stitched together a crucial 153‑run stand with Will Rhodes, arresting the slide and lifting Durham to 302/7 by stumps. Stokes peppered the ropes 18 times, with a remarkable 75.79% of his runs coming in boundaries. His knock ended just short of a century when Harry Conway found a delivery to sneak past his defence, but the innings was a statement in itself.

“We’ve missed him”: Josh Tongue on Stokes’s absence

Meanwhile, at The Oval, England are fighting for survival in the second Test against New Zealand. Chasing 463, the hosts closed day four at 182/5, still 281 runs adrift. Stand‑in captain Joe Root was holding firm with 75 off 137 balls, but the absence of Stokes loomed large.

“Stokesy is an unbelievable player," seamer Josh Tongue was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo at the close of play on day four. "Obviously, I made my debut when he was captain, so I’ve got huge respect for Stokesy. It’s always nice seeing him get some runs as well. We’ve missed him, but obviously, we’ve got a lot of leaders in our team as well. Rooty, stepping in as captain, is obviously an unbelievable player and an unbelievable leader as well.”

Tongue added that England’s dressing room continues to lean on collective leadership, with regular debriefs to identify mistakes and celebrate positives. 

"We obviously have our little debriefs at the end of days' plays, and we always go around the lads, and we try and say as much as we can if we got things wrong on the day and then obviously praise each other as well," Tongue added.

Tongue's words underscored what Stokes’s innings for Durham had already proven: England’s talisman remains irreplaceable.