Ben Stokes is locked in a long-running dispute with the International Cricket Council about over rate fines and points deductions. Stokes revealed on Wednesday that since the 2023 Ashes, he has refused to sign the over rate sheet given to captains by the match referee at the end of a Test that shows teams have bowled their overs too slowly.

Ben Stokes: England Test captain Ben Stokes hit back at the International Cricket Council (ICC) following a slow-over-rate penalty on his team after the first Test against New Zealand at Christchurch, claiming that the match was finished with “10 hours of play still left.”

Ben Stokes suffered an injury scare on day four of the first Test against New Zealand after aborting a spell with the ball midway through his fifth over. England's Test captain opened the bowling with himself on Sunday in Christchurch,

Ben Stokes suffered an injury scare on day four of the first Test against New Zealand after aborting a spell with the ball midway through his fifth over, but played it down as "more management than anything else" and declared himself fit for the second Test.