Ben Stokes demonstrated his full range of power-hitting shots for Durham in the County Championship at Chester-le-Street on Sunday, despite being absent from England’s ongoing Test series against New Zealand. While England struggled in the second Test at the Oval, Stokes continued to find form amid a challenging and unusual situation surrounding his exclusion from the national side.

With the second Test nearing its conclusion, England faced a daunting target of 463 runs to win and found themselves in deep trouble early on. Kyle Jamieson claimed three key wickets, dismissing Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, and Ben Duckett in quick succession, leaving England at 40 for three. Duckett’s dismissal came after misreading the bounce from Will O’Rourke, who along with Nathan Smith had earlier bowled economically but was then hit for 43 runs in four overs by Harry Brook and Joe Root.

England’s under-pressure lineup found some resistance in captain Joe Root, who took on the responsibility of steadying the innings after being left early at 13 for two. Despite the challenging circumstances and a team composed of both inexperienced and out-of-form players, Root battled on, crafting a patient innings. He shared a 97-run partnership with Harry Brook, who produced a confident 58 off 54 balls, including ten fours and a six, marking his fastest half-century in Test cricket. However, Brook eventually fell to Matt Henry, who emerged as New Zealand’s most threatening bowler in the innings.

Henry also came close to dismissing Root and Brook earlier on leg-before-wicket decisions, both overturned after successful reviews showed inside edges. Nevertheless, Henry’s persistence paid off when he trapped Brook with an edge to slip, curtailing the promising partnership. Root, meanwhile, reached a significant milestone by becoming the second batsman in Test history to amass 14,000 runs, joining legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar. His achievement was met with a standing ovation from the packed Oval crowd.

Root remained unbeaten on 75 from 137 balls at stumps on the fourth day, despite battling cramp in his arms. England suffered another setback shortly before the close when James Rew was dismissed leg-before by Jamieson after missing a pull shot. With Root and Jordan Cox as the last recognized batsmen remaining and over 280 runs still required for victory, England’s chances of salvaging the match look slim.

The outcome leaves England’s future uncertain as the series approaches its final and deciding third Test in Nottingham. If England fail to secure a win, the series will be tied at 1-1, casting doubts over the team’s progress following a disappointing Ashes campaign. England have maintained a strong record at home over the past decade, remaining unbeaten in three-match or longer home series since 2012. However, losses to Sri Lanka in 2014 and New Zealand in 2021 remain notable exceptions, and a potential defeat in this series would mark a concerning sixth loss in eight Tests, signalling an ongoing crisis for English cricket management and players alike.

A formal announcement on England’s squad for the final Test, expected to include the likely reintegration of Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, is anticipated once the current game concludes.