Carded to bat at seven, the all-rounder emerged at number five when Gay edged Tom Taylor behind.

Stokes spent six balls on nought then moved off the mark with a nudge to fine leg off seamer Darley. There was an alarm when he inside-edged the experienced Taylor between his legs, but Stokes looked to be in to his work with two boundaries – a handsome drive straight off Darley and a fine tickle off Taylor.

But when Home replaced Darley, Stokes took no time to assess the youngster highly rated at New Road as the paciest bowler on the staff.

With no footwork, Stokes flirted at a back-of-a-length ball and offered the edge to Ethan Brookes, who took a smart tumbling catch.

As he builds up to England’s first Test against New Zealand on 4 June, Stokes will get another chance to bat in the second innings of this match, then could play again for Durham against Kent next week.

Earlier on Saturday, Stokes bowled six overs without adding to his two wickets from the first day.

He bowled three overs at the beginning of the morning session and three with the second new ball, taking his total for the innings to 20.

As Stokes’ workload was managed his absence from the attack was felt when Home and Darley – combined age of 41 and with two previous first-class matches between them – frustrated Durham with the 10th-wicket stand.

Darley, 21, was obdurate in his support of Home. The number 11 faced 108 deliveries for his 12.

Home played some wonderful shots, including a sweet cover drive off Stokes for four. His 106-ball stay included two sixes.

Their stand delayed lunch and was eventually ended when Darley edged behind off Ben Raine, completing the Durham seamer’s third five-wicket haul of the season.