Test captain Ben Stokes put himself forward as a possible solution to England's new-ball dilemma, taking two wickets as a strike bowler for Durham in his first appearance since the Ashes.
Taking the field for the first time since a dispiriting 4-1 defeat concluded in January, Stokes opened the bowling on his county comeback against Worcestershire – a role his side conspicuously failed to fill with any consistency in Australia.
The 34-year-old has long resisted suggestions that he could perform such a role for England, preferring instead to empower his seam-bowling specialists and retain a position in the top six, but the prospect of him redefining his role in the final chapter of his career cannot be ruled out.
He did not waste any time making his presence felt after his side won the toss and inserted their hosts at New Road, drawing South African-born opener Daniel Lategan outside off stump and taking the edge with his eighth delivery of the morning.
He grabbed a second late on in a rain-interrupted day, nailing Brett D'Oliveira's off stump with his first ball after an hour-long delay, celebrating against a picturesque backdrop as a rainbow appeared behind Worcester Cathedral.
He finished with figures of two for 40 in 14 overs, split between two spells before lunch and a longer run in the evening, finding decent pace and consistent bounce on his return to competitive cricket.
Stokes had planned to make his county return at the start of the campaign but saw his plans derailed in pre-season, when an accidental blow to the face left him needing reconstructive surgery to repair a badly broken cheekbone.
Having been given the all-clear by specialists, he was straight back into the Durham XI for a first Rothesay County Championship appearance in two years, filling a pace bowling void left by an injury to Kemar Roach and the absence of England team-mate Matthew Potts.
Whether he was simply stepping up as a horses for courses option or readying himself to do the same at Lord's against New Zealand next month remains to be seen, but head coach Ryan Campbell insisted before the match that Stokes' appearance was about helping Durham's promotion push, not preparing for the international arena.
Yet there is no doubt that England are light at the head of the innings since the staggered retirements of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes.
None of Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson or Josh Tongue excelled in the role Down Under, while Jofra Archer is at the Indian Premier League and may not be ready to start the series against New Zealand.
Sussex's Ollie Robinson and Essex's Sam Cook have been mooted as possible new-ball options but both have been regularly overlooked by the current regime, due in part to their modest pace.
A rethink is possible, particularly with Marcus North's expected arrival as the new national selector, but Stokes could yet be tempted to do what he does best and shoulder the burden himself.
