Ben Stokes returns to County Cricket with 14-run knock in 2026

England captain Ben Stokes scored just 14 runs in his first innings back in County Championship cricket.

Durham's slow start Durham trailed Worcestershire by 101 runs with four wickets left after managing 207-6 on the second day of their County Championship clash. David Bedingham led Durham's batting with a solid 83, while opener Emilio Gay was dismissed early for 28. England's opening batter Bedingham anchored the innings, supported by Clark's 48, as Durham fell short of Worcestershire's first innings total. ## Stokes' brief return Ben Stokes, making his first appearance for Durham in nearly five months, made only 14 runs before falling to a catch at second slip. The England captain's dismissal came after he played a loose shot to the 17th ball he faced. Stokes had stepped in at number five following Gay's wicket, but his stay at the crease lasted just six balls without scoring. ## Worcestershire's strong finish Worcestershire declared at 308 all out, thanks to an unbeaten 63 from batsman Jack Hose and 59 from Brett D'Oliveira. Young paceman Jack Hose took advantage of Stokes' arrival by dismissing him first ball. The debutant Harry Darley added 57 runs with Hose for the last wicket, frustrating Durham's bowlers and extending Worcestershire's lead. ## Stokes' bowling workload Stokes bowled six overs across the second day, finishing with two wickets for 20 runs from his 20-over tally. His absence from the attack was noticeable as Hose and Darley frustrated Durham with their 10th-wicket partnership. Stokes bowled three overs in the morning and three more with the second new ball, managing his workload carefully. ## Durham's fightback continues Durham's innings was built around Bedingham's 83, while Taylor claimed two wickets alongside Waite's two dismissals. The visitors fought back with key contributions from Clark, who added 48, but Worcestershire held a commanding lead. Stokes' injury absence and mixed form in the Ashes series have shifted his approach, reflecting England's broader struggles. ## Hose and Darley's stand Jack Hose and Harry Darley frustrated Durham with their resilient 57-run partnership for the last wicket. Hose, aged 20, played elegant shots including a cover drive off Stokes for four, while Darley, 21, batted for over three hours to score 12. Their partnership extended past lunch before Darley edged behind off Raine, who finished with a season-best five-wicket haul. ## Stokes' injury and return Stokes returned to action after recovering from a groin injury picked up in the fifth Ashes Test and a broken cheek from a coaching accident. His last major innings was a 161-run assault four years ago on this ground, featuring 17 sixes, five in a single over from spinner Josh Baker. Since then, his batting has slowed as he adapted to England's changing fortunes. ## Future opportunities for Stokes Stokes will get another chance to bat in the second innings of this match, with a potential outing for Durham against Kent next week. His focus now is building rhythm ahead of England's first Test against New Zealand on June 4. The captain's workload is being managed carefully as he prepares for international duties.