Ben Stokes has been the driving force for England in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Until Friday, he was just the highest wicket-taker of the Test series, but on Saturday, he also broke a two-year drought for a Test hundred. The English skipper launched a brutal assault against the Indian attack, smashing 141 runs with the help of 11 boundaries and 3 sixes.
The knock came after a stunning 5-wicket haul in the first innings that sparked India’s batting collapse. Thus Stokes became the fourth England cricketer to score a hundred and take five wickets in the same Test, joining the elite company of Tony Greig, Ian Botham — who achieved it five times — and Gus Atkinson.
And not just that, he became only the third cricketer to complete 7000 runs and 200 wickets after Jacques Kallis and Gary Sobers.
Double of 7000 runs and 200 wickets in Tests
Garry Sobers (8032 runs & 235 wkts)
Jacques Kallis (13289 runs & 292 wkts)
Ben Stokes (7000* runs & 229 wkts)*
Stokes’ commanding 141 lifted England to 669 all out on Day 4 of the fourth Test, their fifth-highest Test score ever, giving them a formidable first-innings lead of 311 runs.
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The England skipper, who resumed on 77 not out, had thrilled the crowd with his trademark aggressive strokeplay. Despite not bowling between lunch and tea, a team spokesperson clarified he was fit, having already made an impact with the ball earlier by returning figures of 5-72 in India’s first innings total of 358.
This knock marked Stokes’ first Test century since his exhilarating 155 against Australia at Lord’s in June 2023. The 34-year-old celebrated his 14th century in 115 Tests emotionally, clenching his fist, looking skyward, and making a crooked finger gesture in memory of his late father Ged Stokes before acknowledging the crowd with a raised bat.
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