Ben Stokes has delivered a performance to remember in the ongoing fourth Test of the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy against India. Leading the English team, Stokes starred with both bat and ball. He bowled 24 overs in the first innings and claimed five wickets for 72 runs. He then followed it up with a century.
With this rare achievement, Stokes becomes the first England captain in 148 years to score a century and take five wickets in the same Test. Since England played their first Test match in 1877, 82 players have captained the team in 1088 matches, but none had done what Stokes has just accomplished.
Before him, only four captains had managed this feat in Test history—Denis Atkinson and Garry Sobers from West Indies, and Mushtaq Mohammad and Imran Khan from Pakistan. Stokes is also only the fourth English player, after Tony Greig, Ian Botham, and Gus Atkinson, to score a century and take five wickets in a single Test.
Against India, Stokes joins a select group of seven players who have achieved this double. The list includes Collie Smith, Garry Sobers, Bruce Taylor, Ian Botham, Imran Khan, and Roston Chase.
In the same match, Joe Root scored 150 for England. This knock not only helped his team but also took him to second place in the list of highest run scorers in Test cricket.