Ben Stokes’ return to Test cricket has come in the same week he was cleared of affray at Bristol Crown Court.

Here, Press Association Sport monitors his fortunes against India at Trent Bridge:

1101 – First touch of the ball, fielding the third delivery of the day at point off James Anderson. Throw comes in on an untidy half-volley, but no fuss from Jonny Bairstow as he gathers Stokes’ slightly wayward initial contribution.

England’s Ben Stokes and Alastair Cook (right) get ready for the start of the match (Tim Goode/PA)
England’s Ben Stokes and Alastair Cook (right) get ready for the start of the match (Tim Goode/PA)

1120 – Two bits of exercise in as many balls, unable to pull back a square-drive for four despite a long chase and vain dive, then cannot stop a single either as KL Rahul gets himself up and running off Stuart Broad.

1137 – Joe Root gets his premier all-rounder into the attack early, as first change for Broad at the pavilion end. The crowd reception is minimal, and Stokes begins with a tame long-hop to Rahul, pulled for a single. His second delivery is even shorter to Shikhar Dhawan and is dispatched past cover for four in the blink of an eye. The opening over costs seven runs.

1147 – Dhawan climbs into another short one, four more in Stokes’ second over.

Stokes joins the attack for the first time (Tim Goode/PA)
Stokes joins the attack for the first time (Tim Goode/PA)

1150 – Body contact as he tries to stop a sharp single off his own bowling – but as Dhawan makes his ground comfortably, Stokes’ polite late sidestep ensures no full-on barging match.

1208 – Straight after drinks, Dhawan edges Stokes’ second delivery just short of Keaton Jennings at third slip. It is the closest England have come to a breakthrough – but two balls later, the left-hander rasps another short one past cover for four.

1218 – Four more, but this one another false shot as Rahul edges Stokes high over the slips to take India to 60 for none – their highest stand for any wicket so far in this series.

Stokes congratulates Chris Woakes following the fall of Cheteshwar Pujara (Tim Goode/PA)
Stokes congratulates Chris Woakes following the fall of Cheteshwar Pujara (Tim Goode/PA)

1245 – After two quick wickets from Chris Woakes at the other end, Root decides Stokes’ work is done for the morning – replacing him with Broad following a spell of 7-0-29-0.

1255 – Great diving stop at point after lunch to keep Virat Kohli grounded against Broad, but finds himself scampering after a two from the India captain next ball.

1418 – Back in the attack, but still out of luck as Ajinkya Rahane edges him short and wide of an advanced third slip for four.

It has been a forgettable return to action for England's talismanic all-rounder (Tim Goode/PA)
It has been a forgettable return to action for England’s talismanic all-rounder (Tim Goode/PA)

1430 – Struggling for rhythm, after a kick of the turf in his follow-through in reaction to one delivery short of a length, he serves up a floaty full-toss to Kohli – who puts it away disdainfully past midwicket for four.

1435 – Root replaces Stokes with Adil Rashid after a two-over spell costing 16 runs.

1528 – Stokes’ third spell starts, from the Radcliffe Road end this time and apparently with a brief to bowl short to a field of leg-side catchers. It bears no fruit before tea.