Ben Stokes, England‘s inspiring Check captain, has delivered a rare and historic all-round efficiency on Day 4 of the fourth Check in opposition to India at Outdated Trafford, Manchester. His gritty century, following a vital five-wicket haul in India’s first innings, has not solely cemented England’s dominant place within the match however has additionally seen him rewrite a number of important information in Check cricket historical past. Stokes’ exceptional show of resilience, management, and complete all-round prowess, overcoming bodily discomfort from the day before today, highlights his invaluable contribution to England’s trigger within the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy collection.
Ben Stokes turns into a part of elite all-rounder membership with Jacques Kallis and Garry Sobers
England’s Check captain Stokes showcased his famend batting resilience, reaching his 14th Check hundred on Day 4, his second in opposition to India within the longest format. This century comes after a two-year look forward to a Check ton, together with his final one being within the Ashes in July 2023. Stokes had battled cramps on Day 3, forcing him to briefly depart the sector after scoring 66, which was remarkably his maiden fifty-plus rating throughout his final 11 Check innings. Nevertheless, he returned to the crease later that day, remaining unbeaten on 77, after which transformed that into an impressive century on Day 4.
This significant knock additional prolonged England’s formidable lead over India’s first-innings complete of 358. On Day 3, Stokes had already performed a big position by forging an enormous 142-run partnership with Joe Root, which considerably strengthened England’s maintain on the match. Past this commanding century, Stokes achieved a monumental profession milestone, turning into solely the third participant in Check historical past to attain over 7,000 runs and take 200 wickets.
Stokes reached the 7,000-run mark with a splendid six off Washington Sundar within the 149th over of England’s innings. He now joins the esteemed firm of West Indies legend Sir Garry Sobers (8032 runs/235 wickets in 93 Checks) and South African stalwart Jacques Kallis (13289 runs/292 wickets in 166 Checks), holding the distinct honor of being the primary Englishman to realize this uncommon double. Moreover, only a day earlier on Day 3, Stokes surpassed 11,000 worldwide runs throughout all codecs, accumulating 11,048 runs in 272 matches at a median of 35.88, together with 19 centuries and 60 fifties, additional solidifying his spectacular all-round profession statistics.
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Unprecedented information cement Stokes’ place amongst Cricket’s elite
Stokes’ all-round heroics on this Check have undeniably etched his identify into a number of document books, showcasing a efficiency not often seen within the sport. He turned the primary England captain in 148 years of Check cricket to register each a five-wicket haul and rating a century in the identical Check match. In India’s first innings, Stokes was England’s standout bowler, claiming 5 wickets for 72 runs, proving essential in proscribing the guests.
This distinctive twin efficiency locations him in an unique world membership of designated captains to realize this feat, with the final being Imran Khan in 1983. The opposite captains to realize this uncommon double embody Denis Atkinson (West Indies, 1955), Sir Sobers (West Indies, 1966), and Mushtaq Mohammad (Pakistan, 1977). Moreover, Stokes is now solely the fourth England all-rounder to realize the distinguished double of a century and a five-wicket haul in the identical Check, becoming a member of the likes of Ian Botham (who achieved this feat 5 occasions), Tony Greig (as soon as) and Gus Atkinson (as soon as).
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