ENG vs IND: Ben Stokes joins the elite club of all-rounders in tests; becomes just the 4th cricketer to achieve this feat

Ben Stokes picked a five-wicket haul for England against India in first innings of the ongoing fourth test.

England captain Ben Stokes’ magnificent five-wicket haul against India on day two of the current test at Old Trafford was historic in every way. It was his fifth wicket in test cricket, making him only the fourth men’s all-rounder in history to have five fifers and ten centuries.

Ben Stokes had won the toss and put India into bat first. He started with the wicket of his opposite number, India captain Shubman Gill, for 12 runs. He then accounted for Sai Sudharsan, who had scored a laborious 61 in 151 balls at three.

India then had a good partnership of 48 runs between all-rounders Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar. Stokes, who bowled tirelessly, ended this partnership, dismissing both, with Shardul falling for 41 and Sundar for 27. Stokes completed his fifer with the wicket of debutant Anshul Kamboj. He finished with figures of 5/72 in 24 overs.

Ben Stokes becomes the fourth all-rounder with five fifers and 10 centuries to his name in test cricket

The names of the other three will put his achievement into context: Gary Sobers (26 centuries and six fifers in 93 Tests), Ian Botham (14 centuries and 27 fifers in 102 Tests), and Jacques Kallis (45 centuries and five fifers in 166 Tests).

Stokes took 114 tests to get there, and he has the fewest tons (13), but this record is as strong a testament to his status as one of the sport’s best players as possible.

He had to wait a long time for it as well. Stokes reached four five-wicket hauls in 2017, but it took him eight years to reach five. It was primarily due to ailments, and his already 16 wickets in this series (both chart-topping and a personal best) demonstrate that it is perhaps the best he has bowled in a decade.

His bowling partner Jofra Archer also completed 50 wickets in just his 13th test. He took three wickets—Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah—as India was bowled out for 358 runs.

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