WI vs ENG: Ben Stokes Joins Elite List Comprising Ian Botham, Gary Sobers After His Century In Barbados
England’s premier all-rounder Ben Stokes smashed his 11th hundred in Tests on Day 2 of the second Test against West Indies at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. In the process, he joined an elite list of all-rounders to have scored 5000 runs and taken more than 150 wickets in Tests.
Stokes brought up his century in just 114 balls, providing England the much-needed impetus after a slow-moving first day. Overnight batter, Joe Root, played second fiddle as Stokes took on the opposition attack and developed a liking for the spinner, Veerasammy Permaul.
His stunning knock comprised 11 fours and four maximums, maintaining a strike rate of over 90 throughout. In the process, he also went past the likes of Chris Cairns and Brian Lara in the number of sixes scored. He now has 89 sixes in Tests and can overtake the leader, Brendon McCullum, who has 107 sixes in his career.
Stokes’ acceleration after settling down was a treat to watch for the English fans. He went from 23 to 89 in just 37 balls. There was a 20-run over bowled by Alzarri Joseph where Stokes smashed three fours and a towering six.
In the same over, he breached the 5000-run milestone, joining the likes of Ian Botham and Kapil Dev in an elite list. On the back of Stokes and Root’s centuries, England posted 507 on the board before declaring.
Ben Stokes joins list of players with 5000+ runs and 150+ wickets in Tests:
Gary Sobers – 8032 runs and 235 wickets in 93 Tests
Jacques Kallis – 13289 runs and 292 wickets in 166 Tests
Kapil Dev – 5248 runs and 434 wickets in 131 Tests
Ian Botham – 5200 runs and 383 wickets in 102 Tests
Ben Stokes – 5021 runs and 170 wickets in 78 Tests.
