BEN STOKES admitted today that all the emotions of five long months away from the England team caught up with him as he walked off unbeaten after his match-winning half-century against New Zealand.

Stokes, who has been absent since last September after being arrested outside a Bristol nightclub and subsequently charged with affray, missed England’s entire winter, including their 4-0 Ashes defeat, until he returned against the Kiwis three days ago.

He was unable to help Eoin Morgan’s team to victory then but did so at Mount Maunganui yesterday with two run-outs and two wickets as well as a top score of 63 not out to level the one-day international series at 1-1.