STOKES BACK TO HIS BEST
Ben StokeS appeared to be taking it all in his stride as he made runs, took wickets and even ran two batsmen out in a superlative allround display to lift england back into this one-day series almost single-handedly.
Yet underneath it all, in this quiet and picturesque part of the country where he was born, Stokes was aware of the significance of the winning return for which he has waited more than five long, controversial months.
‘I was quite emotional walking off there at the end,’ he said after inspiring england to a crushing victory in the second one- day international.
‘even walking on the field for the first game and walking off tonight made me understand how much of a privilege it is to represent your country.country It was a different feeling to normal, but it was a great feeling.’
the scorebook will record that england coasted home with six wickets and 73 balls in hand after restricting new Zealand to a woefully below-par 223 all out, levelling the series after their narrow defeat in Hamilton.
But really this was all about Stokes — taking the wickets of Henry nicholls and Lochie Ferguson, running out tim Southee and trent Boult, then smashing an unbeaten 63 to carry england home.
And it was all about the huge difference he brings to this england team and the gaping hole that was left in the side while he was suspended throughout the Ashes while the eCB waited to see whether he would face criminal charges.
the mere presence of Stokes here — while he awaits trial for affray following the Bristol fracas that turned his and england’s worlds upside down — remains contentioucontentious, but there is no disputing how much it means to him to be here.
‘there was relief and happiness because obviously it’s been a long time,’ said man- of-the-match Stokes. ‘ Hopefully now this is a stepping stone on the road to trying to keep on helping england win games.
‘I’ve been working hard at home making sure that when the opportunity came again to represent england I wasn’t going to let anyone down. When I got the nod to come here I wanted to participate fully rather than be eased back into the team. I wouldn’t expect anything less of myself and I don’t think eoin Morgan would expect anything less of me, either.’
In truth, it is as if a lean and fitlooking Stokes has never been away. there may have been the odd sign of rustiness in Hamilton but here he looked in supreme touch, particularly with the bat, and brought back that character and leadership to england’s allround display that is all too often absent whenever he is not around. Sloppy fielding in the first oneday international cost them dear but here there was barely a blemish in a display that featured four sharp run- outs and three outstanding catches among the six safely pouched by england.
new Zealand did not help themselves with some awful running between the wickets, not least when Colin de Grandhomme attempted a ridiculous second and was beaten by Jonny Bairstow’s throw. that left new Zealand 141 for seven, but they were given a lift by a ninth-wicket stand of 69 between Mitchell Santner and Ferguson that included 19 off a tom Curran over. And when De Grandhomme pulled off a catch to send back Joe Root, there was a chance england’s house could come crashing down again. But Stokes would not allow it.
He could have been run out before he had scored, but new Zealand fumbled that chance and there was no way back. Stokes added 88 with Morgan, then an unbeaten 51 with Jos Buttler as england cantered home.
the highlight was a straight six by Stokes off trent Boult that reasserted his authority.
‘It was obviously frustrating to watch the Ashes,’ admitted Stokes. ‘I went through all the emotions as I would have done playing, but there’s not a lot I can change about that now. the focus was all about playing again this winter and when that chance came around I wasn’t prepared to let anybody down.
‘this was very satisfying but it’s all about what’s coming up now. there’s lots to look forward to. All the training and hard work that went into that time spent at home paid off today.’
there are plenty of obstacles remaining before Stokes can be fully reintegrated, but here in an unassuming and charming part of a country he knows so well, he took the first huge steps.