Josh Tongue says England missing Ben Stokes as they struggle against New Zealand – UK Times

Josh Tongue admitted England missed Ben Stokes at the Kia Oval, with the absent captain clubbing 95 runs for Durham while his international team-mates struggled with a record chase against New Zealand.

Stokes has loomed large over the second Rothesay Test despite not being selected following his breach of team protocols during a night out after the series opener at Lord’s.

His omission, alongside fellow reveller Gus Atkinson, forced England to rejig a side already stripped of the injured Ollie Robinson and new father Jamie Smith and led to fevered speculation over his future.

The 35-year-old is now expected to return to the team at Trent Bridge next week, with a disciplinary update thought to be coming on Monday, and he offered a reminder of his abilities on his county comeback at Chester-le-Street.

He hit 18 fours in an attacking knock against Northamptonshire, finishing up within one blow of a defiant century. That kind of hitting power would have been welcomed by an England side that ended day four against the Black Caps on 182 for five chasing a world-record 463.

“Stokesy is an unbelievable player. It’s always nice to see him get some runs,” said fast bowler Tongue.

“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.”

Around 275 miles away at the Banks Homes Riverside, Durham batter Will Rhodes was speaking after playing the junior role in a stand of 153 with Stokes.

Reflecting on his front-row seat as the England skipper let his bat do the talking, he said: “It’s nice to see how Stokesy goes about his business. It’s not often you’re standing at the other end and you feel inferior to someone. Nobody in the crowd’s come to watch me bat so it was nice to go about my work pretty quietly.”

Root is another who continues to leave a positive impression on those he shares the field with.

Faced with daunting odds, he produced an assured knock of 75 not out as the rest of the top six fell away under pressure from the Kiwi attack. Even more impressively, he did so having shouldered the leadership burden he thought he had given away for good more than four years ago.

In challenging circumstances, and with a raw team that has struggled to match up to New Zealand’s clinical skills, Root’s own class remained intact.

His second run of the day took him to 14,000 Test runs – just the second ever player to achieve that mark after India’s Sachin Tendulkar – and another 25 would take him to 41 centuries, eclipsing Australia’s Ricky Ponting.

“I’ve watched him for many years so to share the dressing room with him is a massive honour, as captain he’s been unbelievable with me,” Tongue added.

“He’s a very relaxed guy. He’s been very positive.”