Ben Stokes celebrated his 35th birthday on the first day of the Lord’s Test, guiding England to their opening win of the summer. The captain’s batting, however, has been laborious – an Ashes strike‑rate of 36.58 marks his slowest across any series of three‑plus Tests. Injuries and a two‑year gap from white‑ball cricket have left his rhythm in question in the second innings.

Stokes’ limited match practice includes two County Championship games for Durham in May, his first after a broken cheek, and no participation in The Hundred since 2023. Coach Ryan Campbell suggested a One‑Day Cup stint to add innings, but the next three‑Test series against Pakistan begins in August, leaving little domestic cricket to sharpen his form to rebuild confidence.

If Stokes stays fit for the next 18 months, he could skipper 17 Tests before the 2027 Ashes, edging toward Joe Root’s 64‑match record. His batting average falls to 32 as captain, but his bowling improves to an average of 28 per wicket. Brendon McCullum says the move to number seven eases pressure and lets him influence the tail more effectively for England.