England made good start despite Stokes' absence

England made a solid start to the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval, despite the absence of Ben Stokes. The team's performance on the opening day showed promise as they attempted to move on from the controversy surrounding Stokes. England's focus on the game seemed to pay off, with a good foundation laid for the rest of the match. The team's ability to adapt to Stokes' absence was a positive sign for the remainder of the Test.

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