Ben degrees of separation between Australia and the Urn

Is there a part of Ben Stokes' lower torso that isn't hurting? Is there a part of Ben Stokes' body that isn't in agony? Is there a muscle he hasn't tweaked or pulled or sprained or strained for the sake of his country in the last two weeks?

Is there anyone in his English team who is prepared to step up and for once stand by their captain as they try desperately to stay alive in the Ashes?

For, like last week at Lord's, the only reason Australia have not got their world champion hands firmly around the urn that already lays in their possession, is because they've had Ben Stokes stand in their way, even if he's had to do so on one leg, and at times not even that.

On Friday (July 7), he went a step further. He busted his arse, literally, to somehow thwart Australia's advance yet again; and not only kept his team in the match but nearly gave them a lead. If only his top and middle order had held up their end of the deal by displaying enough spine for him to lean on.

By the end of the day, Australia had of course, like has been the case during this series, handed the significant advantage they seemed to have back to England, for the second time in the same day. But that's just how it's been over the last few weeks.

In a series, where the spirit of cricket has come under question, the two teams have been ironically more giving and generous than probably any Ashes battle in recent memory in terms of handing over the initiative. Almost like they've felt guilty for holding on to it for too long.

They've made sure both have had an equal share of opportunity to decide who is in the driver's seat. On who gets to ride shotgun. On how they want to play this game. At times, even on what they want to play. A parent's dream scenario, some might say. Only that if you're Stokes then you'd be justified in being a bit peeved that your team has been a bit too generous, as the series lead for the visitors would suggest.

The second day's play at Headingley summed up exactly how it's panned out. Despite the current 2-0 scoreline after all, neither team has really managed to stay on top once they've got on top. And after England had done so repeatedly on the opening day after having had the toss go their way, it was Australia's turn to return the favour on Day 2.

Especially after the start that their captain Pat Cummins had provided his team by knocking out Joe Root within the first three deliveries of the first over. He'd then followed it up with taking out the lower order to finish with a six-wicket haul. But it was in the first hour and a half that Australia truly showed their dominance with the ball with arguably the sternest interrogation of the English batters' techniques. It was relentless and it was unforgiving. There are no good cops in the Australian seam attack anyway. Only hard questions, and England had been left reeling as they broke for the lunch-break, with Chris Woakes falling off the final delivery, playing a wild shot in vain, at a time Root had just completed his umpteenth crossword for the day in the English dressing-room.

It had got to a point where England seemed to have lost hope. It was the kind of situation from where you felt even Stokes couldn't save the day from.

It actually took an assault from Mark Wood, 24 off 8 balls, to even get them back believing that they were part of the contest. Then came the Stokes assault, despite him clutching his glute, his buttock, his hamstring and his hip at various times.

It led to a baptism by Stokes for Todd Murphy. And even though the young off-spinner did have his moments in his first-ever taste of Ashes cricket, it was Stokes who got a large chunk of their first-ever face-off, hitting five sixes, providing as much pain to Australia's hopes of staying dominant as he did his own body.

At least, Stokes didn't have to put his body or whatever is left of it on the line with ball in hand. His bowlers did the job for him. Stuart Broad did what he does by removing David Warner, and Chris Woakes came back and continued his impressive return to Test cricket with the wicket of Usman Khawaja late in the day after another obdurate stand.

But it was Moeen Ali who turned out to be the unlikely enforcer, removing Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in consecutive overs, to leave England believing, even if Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh did see off the threat of a late-evening collapse.

It had started off as a day that looked best-suited for batting and scoring runs with the sun out and the pitch beginning to look flatter. It was supposed to be a day where England could finally show us how Bazball really works. Instead, it turned out to be another day in this series, where the two teams played hot potato with having the upper-hand.

There's expected to be a lot of rain around the corner over the next couple of days. Though Australia are still in front in terms of numbers, you'd think cricketing logic would suggest that it's England turn to keep at them and wrest the initiative for good. But then it'll come down to someone in their team finally providing the support that their inspirational captain so desperately seeks before even he runs out of functional body parts to keep himself and his team active in the Ashes.