Ben Stokes Makes History, Becomes 3rd Player Ever to Achieve Sensational Feat
England all-rounder Ben Stokes has etched his name in cricket history by joining the elite company of West Indies legend Garry Sobers and South African great Jacques Kallis. On Thursday, during the first Test against the West Indies at Lord’s, Stokes became the third player in history and the first from England to achieve the double of scoring 6,000-plus runs and taking 200-plus wickets in Test cricket.
Stokes achieved this remarkable feat by dismissing Kirk McKenzie in his first over, marking his 200th Test wicket. In his career so far, spanning 103 Tests, Stokes has accumulated 6,320 runs at an average of 35.30, including 13 centuries and 31 fifties, with a highest score of 258.
In comparison, Garry Sobers amassed 8,032 runs and took 235 wickets in 93 Tests, while Jacques Kallis scored 13,289 runs and claimed 292 wickets in 166 Tests. Stokes’ inclusion in this elite group highlights his exceptional all-round capabilities and cements his legacy in the cricketing world.
Moreover, Stokes has also achieved the rare double of 10,000 runs and 300 wickets in international cricket, becoming the sixth player overall and the first Englishman to do so. Over 260 international matches, Stokes has scored 10,368 runs at an average of 35.75, with 18 centuries and 56 fifties, and taken 300 wickets.
Other notable players who have achieved the 10,000 runs and 300 wickets double in international cricket include West Indies’ Carl Hooper, Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, and Bangladesh’s Shakib al Hasan.
In the ongoing match, England won the toss and opted to field first, restricting West Indies to 121 runs in 41.4 overs. Mikyle Louis (27), Kavem Hodge (24), and Alick Athanaze (23) were the top scorers for the Windies. England, in response, amassed a commanding lead with a total of 371 runs, featuring half-centuries from Zak Crawley (76), debutant Jamie Smith (70), Joe Root (68), Ollie Pope (57), and Harry Brook (50). Jayden Seales was the standout bowler for the West Indies with figures of 4/77, while Jason Holder and Gudakesh Motie each took two wickets.
Teams:
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Mikyle Louis, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Joshua Da Silva (w), Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (w), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson
