England Test captain Ben Stokes is heading towards a rare milestone in a do-or-die Test match against Australia in Ashes 2023. Trailing 0-2 in the five-match series, Stokes Army have a challenge ahead against the reigning World Test champions. And what better place than Headingley for England to return? Four years ago the Test saw a great match and the hosts would like the venue to be similar this year as well. Meanwhile, Stokes can take confidence from his record-breaking knock in the first innings.
Coming in at number six after England were 68/4 on the second day, Stokes played another daring innings of 80 to partially bail his team out of trouble. In doing so, the all-rounder scored 6000 runs in the longest format. The English skipper now finds himself in an elite company of cricketers with 6000 Test runs and 100 wickets across formats.
Players who scored 6000 runs and took 100 wickets in Tests:
- Sir Garfield Sobers (8032 runs, 235 wickets)
- Jacques Kallis (13289 runs, 292 wickets)
- Ben Stokes (6008 runs, 197 wickets)
Stokes has become the best all-rounder not only for England but arguably the best all-rounder in modern Test cricket in the world.
The match is tied after tea on the second day
Notably, the third Ashes Test looks evenly poised after the second session ended on the second day in Leeds. Australia grabbed England’s early wickets on the second day before a blistering 80 from Ben Stokes reduced England’s lead to just 26 runs. England were 142/7 at lunch, but Stokes and Mark Wood helped them through the second session before being bowled out. For 237 in Australia’s reply of 263. Australia were 29/1 at tea and were leading by 55 runs with the loss of Warner.