England skipper Ben Stokes had to wait until his 17th over to claim a wicket on his return to action as Durham chief executive Tim Bostock called for a “common sense” approach to his disciplinary situation.
The 35-year-old, making his first Rothesay County Championship appearance at the Banks Homes Riverside since 2024, had George Bartlett caught at slip for 30 to gain some reward from what had looked like being a frustrating day.
Stokes, who had earlier been denied a wicket from his fourth ball, returned figures of one for 60 from his 18 overs as Northamptonshire amassed 388 for six at Chester-le-Street.
He did so with Bostock urging the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Independent Cricket Regulator not to throw the book at their star player after he and seamer Gus Atkinson breached team protocols after the first-Test victory over New Zealand at Lord’s.
Bostock told BBC Look North: “I like to think common sense would prevail and he will be back next week to doing what he does best. I don’t think there is a cricket fan who doesn’t want Ben Stokes leading England.”
The Press Association understands Stokes could return to the England squad for next week’s third Test at Trent Bridge after the prospect of him relinquishing the captaincy or even retiring in the wake of the investigation appeared to recede.
England head coach Brendon McCullum has voiced his concern for Stokes’ well-being after he and Atkinson were stood down for the second Test at the Oval, but Bostock said: “It is just normal Ben.
“I was a little bit bemused by some of the comments about his state of mind and maybe in the first 24 hours when this exploded, I am sure he was thinking ‘what has happened here?’.
“He has been absolutely fine, as (Durham head coach) Ryan (Campbell) said the other day. He is very positive and is always very positive.”
Skipper Alex Lees, who won the toss and put the visitors in, turned to the all-rounder after 10 overs as he made his first bowling change.
Stokes, who was applauded warmly by a sparse crowd, might have got off to the perfect start when opener Ricardo Vasconcelos, who was on 13 at the time and went on to make an unbeaten 181, clipped the fourth ball of his first over straight to Ben McKinney at leg slip but saw him spill the catch, one of five drops on the day.
He hit Luke Procter on the helmet and had appeals for lbw against Vasconcelos turned down during a hostile first spell of six overs for 16 runs.
The visitors made it to lunch on 91 unbreached and had increased their tally to 161 by the time he was re-introduced, although his second spell was interrupted after three overs by rain.
The players were off for around 50 minutes, during which an early tea was taken, and Stokes’ first ball after the resumption was unceremoniously dispatched over fine leg for six by Vasconcelos.
His industry finally paid off when Bartlett edged him to McKinney at first slip as a long day in the field approached its climax.
Speaking after the close of play, Campbell revealed Stokes had sought permission from his team-mates to return to the fold.
He said: “The first thing he did, he texted the player group and said, ‘Don’t be douchebags around me’ – he’s he same old Ben Stokes – ‘Don’t be weird’.
“He doesn’t want any attention on us, he doesn’t want to upset our apple cart, so to speak. He knows that we’re going really well. He asked permission to come and train and play and ‘Is that okay?’. Of course it is.”
Asked if he sensed talk of retirement was wide of the mark, Campbell added: “When you lose the Ashes – and he’s such a proud man – that has hurt him. He wants to put that right, so I would have thought he is setting himself to play in the Ashes next year at least.
“That’s just me talking out loud but knowing the competitor he is, I would think that is very much on his radar.”
Meanwhile, Atkinson claimed two for 33 from 15 overs, including seven maidens, as Surrey reduced Glamorgan to 244 for six at Cardiff.
