Ben Stokes Creates History At Old Trafford With Gritty Century Against India

Ben Stokes delivered a performance to remember at Old Trafford, Manchester, joining an elite group of Test cricket legends. He became only the third all-rounder in history, after Sir Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis, to reach both 7,000 runs and 200 wickets in Test matches.

England’s Captain Ben Stokes Battles Through Cramps

The England captain hit this milestone in true Stokes style, smashing a big six early on Day 4. He then went on to score a hard-fought 141, finally ending his two-year wait for a Test century, his last one was back in the Ashes in July 2023.

Stokes also made history as the first English player ever to achieve the 7,000-run and 200-wicket double in Test cricket.

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On Day 3, despite struggling with cramps, 34-year-old Ben Stokes showed true grit. He briefly left the field but came back after Jamie Smith got out, finishing his innings in style. He smashed 41 runs off just 34 balls, including three massive sixes. As he walked off the field, the crowd gave him a well-deserved standing ovation.

Stokes’ brilliant knock, combined with Joe Root’s classy 150 and solid half-centuries from openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, helped England post a massive total of 669. It’s their fifth-highest score ever in Test cricket and their second-biggest against India, just behind the 710/7 declared at Birmingham in 2011.

Joe Root Climbs to No. 2 on Test Run-Scorers List

This was also England’s highest-ever Test total at Old Trafford, beating their previous best of 627/9 declared against Australia way back in 1934.

England’s innings lasted 157 overs, leaving India’s bowlers visibly worn out. Jasprit Bumrah bowled 33 of those overs, his second-longest spell in a single Test innings. Ravindra Jadeja was the most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 4/143, while Mohammed Siraj’s sharp catch to dismiss Brydon Carse for 47 finally brought the innings to an end.

It was a milestone-filled day for England. Joe Root moved up to second on the all-time list of Test run-scorers, overtaking legends like Rahul Dravid (13,288), Jacques Kallis (13,289), and Ricky Ponting (13,378). With 13,409 runs to his name, only Sachin Tendulkar’s towering record of 15,921 runs stands ahead of him.