Ben Stokes' first slice of birthday cake as Test captain turned him into England's gateau blaster.
On the day he turned 31, Stokes threw off his superhero's cape and unfurled a bipolar half-century decorated with brainstorms and brilliance in a Lord's thriller. If England take the chequered flag in the 1st LV= Insurance Test against New Zealand today, Stokes' belligerent 54 will go down as a turning point.
Set 277 to win, the birthday boy marched to the crease with England in disarray at 69-4 – and batted like he wanted to have his cake and eat it. He was a man with a flan. Closing on 216-5, they still need another 61 – but Joe Root is 77 not out after 4hr 20min of exemplary application, and Stokes' predecessor has yet to play a false shot.
