Tag: Ben Stokes

India captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul excelled in a remarkable defensive effort as they halted the home team’s attempt to secure a series-clinching victory in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Saturday, following a long-awaited century from England captain Ben Stokes.

Gill came in with India in dire straits at 0-2 after Chris Woakes struck with successive deliveries in the first over of India’s second innings to have Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan both caught in the slips for ducks.

That left India more than 300 runs behind the mammoth first-innings total of 669 by England, featuring Stokes’ superb 141.

But an engrossing series of several twists and turns produced another as India reached stumps on the fourth day without further loss at 174-2, with opener KL Rahul 87 not out and Gill 78 not out.

India still face a deficit of 137 runs but have renewed hope of leaving Manchester with what would be a remarkable draw after England, already 2-1 up in this five-match series, compiled their fifth-highest Test total of all time.

It was a return to form for Gill, who had started his first series as India skipper with three hundreds in four innings, only to manage 34 runs in total in his last three knocks.

Stokes did not bowl himself Saturday, a concerning sign for England following his history of hamstring trouble, after taking an excellent 5-72 in India’s first innings of 358.

His hundred meant Stokes became just the fourth England player to take five wickets and score a century in the same Test after Tony Greig, Ian Botham, and the currently sidelined Gus Atkinson.

It looked as if bowling might not be needed at all on Saturday as Gill survived a hat-trick ball from veteran paceman Woakes.

And the second ball after lunch saw Gill, still on nought, survive an impassioned lbw appeal from fast bowler Jofra Archer, who was convinced he had struck pad, rather than bat first.

But England’s review produced an inconclusive replay, and the original not out decision was upheld.

Gill had made two when Archer rapped him on the pad only for another lbw appeal to be turned down, with the express quick down on his haunches in disbelief.

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The 25-year-old Gill then hit back with two boundaries in three balls from Woakes, a dashing cut followed by a textbook straight drive.

But he might have been out for 46 when an edge off Brydon Carse flew high to point, only for Liam Dawson to drop a two-handed chance.

Gill’s three off part-time spinner Root saw him to a 77-ball fifty before Rahul followed him to the landmark in 141 balls as he repelled England with sound defence.

But Rahul showed a willingness to attack when Archer strayed in direction with an elegant late-cut and forceful pull.

England resumed in command at 544-7 against India after Root had become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history during his majestic 150 on Friday.

Stokes, 77 not out overnight after briefly leaving the field with cramp Friday, delighted Saturday’s large crowd with yet more thrilling stroke-play.

He completed a 164-ball hundred with a leg-glanced four off Jasprit Bumrah.

It was Stokes’s first Test century in more than two years following a whirlwind 155 against Australia at Lord’s in June 2023.

The 34-year-old celebrated his 14th century in 115 Tests by clenching his fist, looking to the sky and making a crooked finger gesture in honour of his late father Ged before raising his bat to a cheering crowd.

With the shackles off, left-handed batsman Stokes drove Washington Sundar for six and the next ball reverse-swept the off-spinner for four.

Stokes then launched Ravindra Jadeja for six, but, trying to repeat the stroke, the next ball he holed out off the left-arm spinner with England exactly 300 runs ahead at 658-9.

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Ben Stokes has again criticised over-rate rules after England were docked two World Test Championship (WTC) points following last week’s win against India.

England won a thrilling encounter at Lord’s by 22 runs to go 2-1 up in the five-match series. But there was widespread criticism of time-wasting from both sides, which led to several delays in play and slow over-rates.

England were ruled to be the main offenders, and the points deduction means they slipped from second to third in the WTC standings for the 2025-2027 cycle.

They were docked a costly 22 points in the previous cycle.

Exasperated England skipper Ben Stokes on Tuesday renewed his call for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to change its rules.

“Over rate isn’t something I worry about, but that’s not saying I purposely slow things down,” he told reporters on the eve of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

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“I do understand the frustration around it, but I honestly think there needs to be a real hard look at how it’s structured.

“You can’t have the same rules in Asia, where spin is bowling 70 percent of the overs, (as) in New Zealand, Australia, England, where it’s going to be 70, 80 percent of seam bowled.”

Nine teams contest the WTC and each nation plays six other sides, three home and three away, over the course of a two-year period.

Teams are ranked by percentage of points won because they play a different number of matches within those six series.

The top two teams compete in the WTC final, with the next three showpiece matches all scheduled to be held in England.

The most recent final took place last month, when South Africa were crowned champions for the first time after defeating holders Australia at Lord’s.

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Batting maestro Joe Root has hailed England captain Ben Stokes for putting his body on the line against India in the third Test, eventually resulting in a thrilling 22-run victory at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

The three-lions captain Stokes stood tall with his all-round performance, which helped his team in securing a 2-1 lead over the visitors at the home of cricket.

Ben Stokes’ remarkable resilience and leadership were on full display during the fifth day of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy third Test.

The all-rounder bowled the most number of overs, 44 in the match, including a tireless spell of 9.2 overs on the final day’s morning and another 10 overs late in the day to help England seal a memorable win.

Overall, Ben Stokes took five wickets along with 77 runs with the willow and a match-turning run-out of Rishabh Pant in India’s first essay.

Now, Joe Root, who captained England before Stokes, lauded him and revealed some interesting insights behind his work ethic.

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“He doesn’t always listen to me. He didn’t listen to me when I was captain, Root revealed.

“But, no, he knows what he’s doing and he’s got a good handle on where he’s at physically. It was an incredible effort,” he said while praising Stokes.

Joe Root called the skipper the man of the moment and a change-maker who makes things happen.

“He’s just desperate to be the man and make things happen. Incredible effort to be able to do that,” Root added.

The top-order batter stated that he was nervous due to Stokes’ bowling effort and called it an excellent sign for the England team.

“I was just panicking that he wasn’t going to make it through the game after a couple of bad injuries, but he clearly trusts his body now. It’s a great sign for us moving forward. I mean it really is isn’t it, because that’s back to his best,” he concluded.

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LONDON: England captain Ben Stokes shared his thoughts after his side’s narrow victory over India in the third Test of a five-match series here at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Monday.

England secured a narrow 22-run victory over India to go 2-1 up in the series as visitors failed to chase a 193-run target despite valiant contributions from the lower order.

Ben Stokes, who was also named as the Player of the Match for his all-round contributions, hailed off-spinner Shoaib Bashir. The right-arm spinner took the last wicket with a broken finger to seal a memorable win for the home team.

“I’ve taken myself to some pretty dark places, but if bowling your country to a Test match win doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what does. Bashir, it was written in the stars to take that last wicket. An absolute warrior,” he remarked.

The English captain expected something special from Jofra Archer, who made his return to the red ball side after four years.

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“Yeah, part of the reason I went with Jof [Jofra Archer] this morning, six years ago now to the day. He played a major role, and I had a feeling he’d do something special and crack the game open.

“A bit of discussion, Brydon had an amazing spell, but I had a gut feeling that Jof’s going to do something in his first game back. Every time he’s announced on the tannoy, the ground erupts, and when the speeds go up on the screen, the feeling changes,” he added.

Stokes, who underwent hamstring surgery in 2024 during New Zealand’s tour, revealed what it took to put his body on the line during the Test match.

“With what was on the line… I was cooked yesterday, but the game was on the line, nothing was stopping me. I’m an allrounder, I get four opportunities to influence the game, and if one thing doesn’t click… I’d like to score more runs, but you don’t have a chance to worry about anything,” he concluded.

READ: Archer, Stokes shine as England edge India in Lord’s thriller

England will head into the second day of the third Test against India at Lord’s with fresh doubts over the fitness of inspirational captain Ben Stokes.

The skipper pulled up with what appeared to be a groin issue late on Thursday’s opening day, with Stokes receiving on-field treatment before he batted on until the close.

England were 251-4 at stumps, with Joe Root 99 not out and Stokes, who won the toss, unbeaten on 39.

The 34-year-old Stokes’s career has been blighted by injuries, with a longstanding knee problem requiring an operation in 2023, while the all-rounder has suffered two serious hamstring tears during the past eight months.

In an encouraging development for the side, Ben Stokes has been able to operate as a fully fledged all-rounder in recent games after his fitness issues restricted his impact as a lively seamer.

But such is his importance to the balance of the team, with England currently 1-1 in a marquee series at home against India as they build towards a showpiece Ashes tour of Australia, that team chiefs will hope Thursday’s incident is merely a minor problem.

“Fingers crossed it’s nothing too serious and he can do something magic and come back strong,” said England vice-captain Ollie Pope. “We’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow (Friday).

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“We’ve got a big Test over the next four days, and we’ve got a big two coming up after that, so it’s important to try and manage him.

“That’s one of my roles, to make sure he doesn’t push himself to a ridiculous place with whatever he’s dealing with at the moment.

“I’m sure the physios and medics will work with him to lay out a plan and I’ll help push him in the right direction,” added Pope, who made 44 on Thursday.

Play ended with Root just one run shy of his 37th Test hundred and a record-extending eighth such century at Lord’s.

Pope, however, does not expect the star batter to suffer too many nerves overnight.

“Obviously, he’d have loved to have a hundred red (not out), but he’s got 36 of them, so I don’t think he’ll be too sleepless,” said Pope. “He’ll get his head down.

“It would have been nice to see him get it tonight, but he’ll be looking at the bigger picture and trying to make it a monster innings. Hopefully we can kick on and get 400, towards 500.”

READ: Joe Root’s masterclass keeps India at bay on opening day of Lord’s Test

England captain Ben Stokes has delivered a strong warning to India ahead of the highly anticipated third Test, set to commence on 10 July at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.

The newly renamed Anderson-Tendulkar trophy is tied 1-1 as India roared back with a statement win in the second Test at Edgbaston, a venue where they recorded their first win on the ninth attempt.

The 336-run victory also marked Shubman Gill’s first win as a captain, who was also named as the ‘Player of the Match’ for his consecutive tons in both innings of the match.

With England requiring a record 608 to chase, their batting crumbled under pressure and they were bowled out for just 271 runs on the final day of the Test match.

Speaking to the media ahead of the Test, Ben Stokes acknowledged that the series was always going to be competitive due to the quality of the teams.

“This was always going to be a series (in) which moments ebb and flow, the results were going to ebb and flow because there are two very good teams going at each other,” he told reporters.

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“We came out on top at Headingley, and they came out on top in the last game. When you have two good sides going at it against each other, you are going to see that. I don’t think we feel like we have the edge over anyone,” he added.

The skipper, who is also facing a dip in form with the willow, issued a warning to the visitors, noting that the Three Lions will come out firing all cylinders.

“We respect our opposition, whoever that may be. We’ll be coming out this week, trying to hit them hard and obviously trying to come away with a win,” he concluded.

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England captain Ben Stokes has brushed off the threat posed by India’s ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the five-match test series, set to commence tomorrow at Leeds.

In the lead-up to the series, there were ample discussions regarding Bumrah’s skilful bowling and England’s bazball approach. However, the right-arm pacer is only available for three Tests due to workload management and injury concerns.

Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated series, Ben Stokes dismissed the notion of fearing Bumrah’s threat.

“No fear. In international cricket, you come up against quality opposition all the time. We know his class and what he brings to any team he plays for, but in terms of fear, definitely, he said.

“I don’t think one bowler alone is going to win the series for either team. All 11 [players] have to stand up. I don’t think there is just one person in either team holding the key to success,” Ben Stokes added.

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The 31-year-old pacer had a stellar run in 2024, having picked up 71 wickets in just 13 games at an average of 26.27. However, despite India ending the series on a losing note, Bumrah stood out with his phenomenal bowling down under.

However, Jasprit Bumrah sustained a back injury in the last Test against Australia, hence keeping him out of the Champions Trophy 2025.

A few days earlier, the fast bowler mentioned his injury problems and the number of the matches he will be play in the upcoming series.

“[We will] plan on the go. Three Test matches is what I’m looking at. Obviously that number is not decided. First [Test] is definitely on, that is going to happen.

The rest we’ll see how things are, what is the workload, what are the scenarios going on. Three Test matches is what I can manage at this moment. And I don’t want to be in a desperate scenario,” Bumrah stated.

With India set to play five Test matches without experienced Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah will carry most of the burden as he leads an inexperienced pace attack.

For context, Bumrah has enjoyed bowling in English conditions, taking 37 wickets in nine Tests.

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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has questioned Three Lions captain Ben Stokes’ readiness for the five-match Test series against India, which is set to begin tomorrow at Leeds. 

While speaking with an English news outlet, Vaughan expressed his amusement over Ben Stokes’ lack of match practice ahead of a packed summer.

“I’ve been staggered by the lack of time in the middle that Ben’s had as a batter. He didn’t have a great year last year when he got his injuries,” Vaughan said.

He also questioned England’s skipper’s absence from the Lions’ practice game against India A.

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‘A Scottie Scheffler or a footballer going into a major event would be playing. He’s had no game time. Why wouldn’t you want to play for England Lions just for a knock, not to bowl?

He was bowling against Zimbabwe, and clearly he’s fine, but why wouldn’t you just want a bit of time in the middle? Call me old school, but I think it’s quite nice to go out and hit a few balls,” he added.

The 50-year-old hailed Ben Stokes as an intelligent captain, deeming him a vital cog in England’s chances down under.

“England can only win in Australia with him, and that’s him being the all-rounder. If he goes to Australia just as the batter, that completely breaks the balance of the team and as much as he’s a genius captain, the team are 30-40 per cent better when he bowls. To win in Australia, he has to be bowling and batting well,” he concluded.

For the unversed, Ben Stokes returned for the first time after knee surgery, playing against Zimbabwe in a one-off historic Test.

The all-rounder did not have a good outing with the bat, scoring only nine runs; however, Stokes was impressive with the ball, taking three wickets in the match.

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Ben Stokes struck twice on his return to Test cricket as England enforced the follow-on against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge on Friday despite a record-breaking century from Brian Bennett.

Zimbabwe were dismissed for just 265 after tea on the second day of the four-day match, exactly 300 runs behind England’s mammoth first-innings 565-6 declared.

England captain Ben Stokes wasted no time in asking Zimbabwe to bat again as he sought to turn the screw in Nottingham.

And at stumps, Zimbabwe were 30-2 in their second innings, a deficit of 270 runs.

This actually represented a recovery from 7-2 in the first Test of Zimbabwe in England in 22 years.

Bennett endured the other side of Test cricket when lbw for just one to Gus Atkinson before Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine also fell cheaply.

Zimbabwe were dominated by England’s batsmen before reaching the relative comfort of 187-3 on a flat pitch in their first innings.

But all-rounder Ben Stokes, playing his first match of the year in any form of cricket following hamstring surgery, took two wickets for no runs in 11 balls before tea to leave Zimbabwe struggling on 199-5.

He had Sikandar Raza (seven) caught behind off a lifting delivery ball that cut away before bowling Wessly Madhevere for a duck with a sharp in-ducker.

Bennett, occasionally riding his luck, kept England at bay, reaching 139 off just 143 balls, including an impressive 26 fours, before he was dismissed.

He reached his century in 97 balls, breaking the record for the fastest Test ton by a Zimbabwe batsman, Sean Williams’s 106-ball effort against New Zealand at Bulawayo in 2016.

Bennett had a lifeline when dropped in the slips by Joe Root off paceman Stokes on 89 but the 21-year-old opener went to his hundred, his second in seven Tests, in style with three commanding fours off successive balls from fast bowler Atkinson.

“When I play my best that is my game-plan — to be positive,” said Bennett. “I saw the ball nicely.”

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Bennett, whose parents were in the crowd at Trent Bridge, added: “It is a huge honour to play for Zimbabwe in Test cricket, especially at such a young age.”

After tea, Bennett was brilliantly caught by a diving Ollie Pope at short leg as he fended at a rising delivery from the injury-plagued Tongue only for replays to reveal the fast bowler, playing his first Test in two years, had over-stepped.

But Bennett was unable to cash in. He was still on 139 when he fell to the same combination in similar fashion, with Pope taking a far simpler catch.

And 246-6 became 251-7 when Shoaib Bashir, who had struck twice before tea, bowled Tafadzwa Tsiga for 22 with a sharply turning delivery.

Zimbabwe’s innings ended when they were nine wickets down, with injured paceman Richard Ngarava unable to bat.

Off-spinner Bashir finished with figures of 3-62 after taking just two wickets in this season’s County Championship at a hugely expensive average of 152 apiece.

“It was nice to get the wickets there,” said the 21-year-old. “It was a pretty dominant day from us.

“Walking into the dressing room, as we say you stand six-foot tall. I’m very well supported here. It’s my happy place,” added Bashir, loaned to Glamorgan because he struggles to get into a Somerset team where Jack Leach is the specialist spinner.

England resumed Friday under sunny skies on an already commanding 498-3, with Pope 169 not out after openers Zak Crawley (124) and Ben Duckett (140) had also made hundreds.

But Pope had added just two runs when caught behind off Tanaka Chivanga, bringing in Stokes, who only managed nine runs.

Harry Brook punished Zimbabwe’s outclassed attack, hitting 58 off 50 balls, including six fours and three sixes.

He struck Blessing Muzarabani for successive sixes, a thumping pull followed by a remarkable pick-up shot that sailed high over fine leg.

Brook went to fifty with another six off Muzarabani before playing on to the persevering quick, who finished with 3-143.

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England’s Test captain Ben Stokes has supported head coach Brendon McCullum’s notion of being smarter with their comments ahead of a hugely important summer.

While speaking to the media ahead of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, Ben Stokes emphasized comments that England players had made in the past couple of years.

Ben Stokes, who will be playing his first competitive match since picking up a hamstring injury during last year’s tour of New Zealand, stated that comments made by himself, Brendon McCullum, and other players are sometimes misinterpreted when reported by the media.

“Yeah, I think what’s the messaging we have delivered over sort of last two and half or three years, let’s say has been for a multiple of reasons, you know the words that we say mean bigger things in our minds,” Ben Stokes said.

“I and Buzz [Brendon McCullum] and particular and sometimes when those sort of comments that we say come across in the media by some of the other lads that get heavily taken out of context,” Ben Stokes added.

Ben Stokes called for his team players to be smart with their words while taking the blame on himself for the interaction.

“I can totally understand that as to why that may frustrate or annoy fans, public. We always want public to be on our side. We know how much support we get and we value that incredibly.

“But now we have spoken about that and just be a little smarter about some of the comments that we, how we deliver it may be and I partly take a bit of blame for that as well because when sometimes I speak and I’ ve got a bigger meaning towards that does not mean everyone understand the bigger picture of that, if that makes sense, Ben Stokes explained.

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Earlier, Brendon McCullum suggested that his side is ‘shooting for the stars’ ahead of a packed summer, but urged that players need to remain humble.

The statement comes in light of criticism England players have faced for reacting to their losses in public.

A month earlier, England speedster Mark Wood admitted to the fact that the team players have said ‘dumb’ things in the media.

It is pertinent to mention that the three lions were also under immense criticism from former batter Kevin Pietersen for not training enough, particularly during the white-ball tour of India earlier this year.

For this reason, England’s managing director, Rob Key, also gave a statement in March that the [England] players need to “stop talking rubbish”.

For the unversed, England will start their summer with a one-off historic Test against Zimbabwe on Thursday. This will be Zimbabwe’s first on English soil in 23 years.

The match will be followed by a white-ball series against West Indies under new captain Harry Brook.  England will later face the challenge of India in a five-match Test series, starting from 20 June.

READ: Jofra Archer ruled out of ODI series against West Indies