THE OVAL — Even with five changes to England’s XI, including three debutants, and Joe Root leading the team for the first time in four years, this opening day of the second Test against New Zealand felt like it was all about Ben Stokes.
That’s despite an encouraging return to Test cricket for Jofra Archer and decent debuts from effervescent fast bowler Sonny Baker and wicketkeeper James Rew.
That’s because the shadow of Stokes loomed large over everything this new-look team did at The Oval.
Amid the rancour and uncertainty currently eating English cricket from the inside, it’s easy to forget that the Test summer started with a victory at Lord’s 10 days ago .
Yet that now seems a lifetime ago. BRR – Before Rex Rooms – if you will.
Joe Root returned to captain the side four years after resigning (Photo: Getty)
Despite the new-era feel that this opening day was infused with, it did not feel good. Indeed, it feels like something is broken within this England set-up right now – including their connection with the fans.
The gradual sense of mission creep that has now infected the England & Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) response to Stokes’ and Gus Atkinson’s curfew-busting night out in Chelsea has not helped.
Most reasonable people would conclude that the captain deserved to be stood down for this Test, possibly even next week’s series finale in Nottingham too, for breaking the team protocols he helped enforce in the first place.
But quitting cricket altogether or losing the captaincy if he does return? This feels like too much for the average punter. Especially when you factor in Harry Brook got away relatively lightly for a transgression in Wellington last winter that was far worse.
After all, Stokes is a player who has given England fans their most memorable moments over the past decade. And he will perhaps be the last England cricketer who truly transcends the sport.
It’s easy to forget how impressive a feat that is given international cricket has largely been hidden behind a paywall since the end of the 2005 Ashes.
Fans must also be wondering what the hell is going on?
At tea, with New Zealand 166 for four, news broke that Stokes is set to be grilled by the cricket regulator before turning out for Durham in the County Championship on Friday.
The mixed messages over this whole affair paint a murky picture too, with a fog of disinformation clouding Stokes’ future.
Even a flurry of wickets for debutant Sonny Baker couldn’t lift a flat day at the Oval (Photo: Getty)
After coach Brendon McCullum spoke about his “worry” for Stokes two days before this Test at The Oval, the player himself is said to be bemused at the suggestion his mental health is an issue right now. Indeed, Ryan Campbell, his coach at Durham, said the following day: “From what I’ve seen, he’s in good spirits, he’s back in training, working hard and the rest will take care of itself.”
Yes, Stokes did contemplate quitting cricket altogether in the days after he and Atkinson were found to have stayed out beyond midnight during those Lord’s celebrations.
But that mood has since mellowed. The path to ever captaining his country again, though, does not look smooth. A relationship with McCullum that frayed during last winter’s Ashes series in Australia cannot have been helped by what’s happened this week.
The choice of Root for the interim captaincy also opens the door to the Yorkshireman taking on the job through to next summer’s home Ashes series.
A cynic might suggest the ECB are engineering a situation where Stokes loses the captaincy over perceived fears it’s taking a toll on his wellbeing. There is absolutely no proof that is happening.
But supporters – especially those online who are fond of conspiracy theories – might wonder.
If Stokes does lose the job, or indeed voluntarily stands down from the captaincy, it would be a truly remarkable turn of events given the fact that McCullum and Rob Key, England’s director of cricket, clung onto their positions following last winter’s Ashes disasterclass.
England fans might be hard to win back too if they suspect a corporate stitch up of the country’s most charismatic and totemic cricketer of the past 20 years.
Stokes’ absence here at The Oval was certainly keenly felt. Root captained well and was more proactive than he was when he last did the job four years ago.
The most inexperienced England bowling attack – combined caps 27 – since 2003 also ran in gamely all day.
But they badly missed the inspirational figure of Stokes in the field, and most importantly with ball in hand given he is exactly the bowler they needed on a flat, sub-continental-type Oval pitch.
Regardless of the result of this match, what we all need now is a swift end to the current psychodrama and Stokes back in England whites.
Anything else would be truly unforgivable.
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