Ben Stokes is one of the few cricketers who have chosen to opt-out of white-ball cricket to focus entirely on Test cricket. Since taking over as the Test captain of England, alongside coach Brendon McCullum, Stokes has revolutionized the way Test cricket is played. Their aggressive and high-risk style of play, often referred to as ‘Bazball,’ has redefined traditional strategies in the game.
As England faced West Indies at Lord’s for the first Test, Ben Stokes was honoured for having completed his 100th Test during the Rajkot Test against India. Stokes has delivered numerous memorable performances throughout his career, but his standout innings was against Australia in the third Test of the Ashes 2019 at Headingley.
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In that match, England was chasing a formidable target of 359 and were nine down for 286. Stokes orchestrated one of the most remarkable chases in history, leading England to a stunning victory. Three matches after the Rajkot Test, the England Cricket Board (ECB) presented him with a silver cap in recognition of his achievement. At 33, Stokes became only the 18th player to reach this milestone for England.
100 Tests ✅
After reaching three figures in Rajkot, @BenStokes38 is presented with a silver cap to mark an incredible milestone 🧢
Congratulations, Stokesy 👏#EnglandCricket | #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/SN6Z5DCZgK
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 11, 2024
In the 100th Test match, England won the toss and chose to bowl first. Debutant Gus Atkinson’s impressive 7-wicket haul helped bundle out West Indies for just 121 runs. England then showcased their batting strength, scoring 371 runs, with notable contributions from Zak Crawley and debutant Jamie Smith, who scored 76 and 70 respectively. Unfortunately, Stokes was dismissed for a mere four runs by spinner Gudakesh Motie.
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This Test holds significant importance for England’s star pacer, James Anderson, who is set to retire after the conclusion of this match. In his farewell game, Anderson has already picked up three wickets, one in the first innings and two in the second. As the match stands, the visitors are struggling at 57/5, trailing by 193 runs, and facing a challenging task to avoid defeat.
Stokes’s milestone and Anderson’s retirement mark the end of an era and the continuation of England’s new, bold approach to Test cricket under the leadership of Stokes and McCullum.
