Stokes proves captaincy is no burden after England’s summer of success

The sponsors’ backdrop was missing and the champagne spray parked but at the end of a rapid-fire Test decider, played out to a backdrop of national mourning in which English cricket struck the right tone, Ben Stokes smiled with satisfaction as he was presented with the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy.

A crowd of 5,000 had pitched up to the Oval to watch just 25 minutes of cricket in watery September sunshine as England sealed a nine-wicket victory over South Africa, and with it a 2-1 series victory. After Ollie Pope had duffed his attempt to scoop the winning runs a la Joe Root earlier in the summer, Zak Crawley punched Marco Jansen through cover for four to move to an unbeaten 69 and complete an inevitable chase of 130.

Gone was the incredulity on the face of Stokes when bad light halted his side’s victory charge the evening before with just 30 required. In its place was a captain with a player of the series medal around his neck reflecting on a memorable first summer in the job. Six wins from seven – England’s best home season for 18 years, no less – is a fair old turnaround from their previous one in 17, but it was the soulful manner in which they delivered it that may well have restored the public’s faith.

This remains an imperfect team, certainly, and tough assignments lie ahead, not least three Tests in Pakistan in December. Crawley and Alex Lees, lbw for 39, are still a couple of head-scratchers, but have likely booked their plane tickets through a second century stand of the summer, while the challenge of taking 20 wickets away from home will be significant. South Africa’s batting lineup, it must be also said, was very flaky.

But for all the caveats and the whataboutery of the modern sporting discourse, it would be