There might be long-term implications, for the next Ashes series, in that for as long as Lyon continues to bowl, Australia can keep control over England’s batsmen, whether they are playing Bazball or not. But for this comeback by Stokes, a cheap dismissal hardly signifies, because what matters is that England’s captain is now bowling again at full lick.
On the second morning of this match Stokes had one more over, after 17 on day one, before Lancashire’s first innings ended. It had been some work-load on the first day of his comeback yet Stokes was able to get out of bed and put his left knee through its paces all over again. That is what mattered: those two wickets, not his two runs.
Lancashire’s total of 356, after they had been sent in, came to look ever more impressive as Lyon went to work. Durham are mid-table, and Lancashire bottom of it, so they need their Lyon to roar and their first victory of this season.