Ben Stokes: Dropped Test captain just five runs short of century on return to Durham as England struggle

Ben Stokes fell just five runs short of a century on his return to Durham after he was dropped by England, who are struggling in the second Test against New Zealand.

Stokes hammered 95 off 118 balls against Northants in the County Championship before eventually being dismissed immediately after the tea interval when he was bowled by Harry Conway.

Stokes' knock allowed Durham to recover from 30-3, included 18 fours and happened while England appear to be slipping towards defeat against New Zealand in the second Test at The Oval in his absence.

There have been suggestions Stokes could resign as captain or even retire from international cricket, but he is expected to return for England in the third and final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, which starts on Thursday.

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The 35-year-old was returning to action for Durham after he had been suspended by England for breaking a midnight curfew following the first Test win over New Zealand, along with team-mate Gus Atkinson.

Coach Brendon McCullum said he was "slightly bewildered" after hearing the news of the incident, involving a Saracens rugby player, before adding he was worried about Stokes.

England team-mate Josh Tongue admitted England have missed Stokes.

The fast bowler said: "Stokesy is an unbelievable player. It's always nice to see him get some runs.

"I made my debut when he was captain, I've got huge respect for Stokesy. Yeah, we've missed him, but we've got a lot of leaders in that team.

"Obviously Rooty (Joe Root) can step in as captain as well and he's an unbelievable player, unbelievable leader. It's been good."

Elsewhere, Rehan Ahmed hit 128 off 168 balls for Leicestershire against Yorkshire. The dazzling knock included 19 fours, one six and a strike-rate of 76.19.

Team-mate Nick Kelly also impressed as he scored 121 off 199 balls as Leicestershire made 453 in reply to Yorkshire's first-innings 185.

'Is Stokes still your captain? I would have gone, yes'

Former England captain and Sky Sports pundit Nasser Hussain urged the ECB to "cut out the noise" when deciding on the future of Stokes.

Hussain said: "Firstly, it's a very difficult position because of what happened in the winter.

"You've got the person who they would have sat down with in the previous three months and made the rules with, and at the first opportunity has broken those rules.

"So it's very difficult, angry, all those words that they used. I think time clears a lot up. Papers and us [pundits], there's a lot of noise. You've got to try and cut out that noise and have some time, time to discuss, and the most important thing to discuss at that stage is: do you still want Ben Stokes as your captain?"

He added: "Do you think that is a sackable offence? If you do, then sack him.

"If you don't then bide your time. Maybe not see what happens from the regulator, but say as long as nothing else comes out, as long as what we know is true, Ben Stokes is still our cricket captain.

"I think they could have been a little bit stronger when pushed on the fact: is Stokes still your captain? I would have gone, yes, he is still my captain."

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