In a moment of cricketing brilliance, England’s Ben Stokes has etched his name in the annals of the sport. He joins an exclusive club of all-rounders who have achieved the remarkable feat of 6,000 Test runs and 200 wickets.
Ben Stokes joins the Legendary club
Stokes now stands alongside two legends: Sir Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis. Sobers, the West Indian maestro, amassed 8,032 runs and took 235 wickets in 93 Tests, boasting an impressive batting average of 57.78 and a bowling average of 34.03.
Kallis, with an immense 13,289 Test runs, ranks third among all Test batters. His average of 55.37 reflects his longevity. He also claimed 292 wickets at an average of 32.65.
Ben Stokes has kept his batting average (35.30) above his bowling average (31.75). His 6,320 runs include 13 centuries and 31 fifties. His memorable best of 258 against South Africa in 2016 remains etched in cricketing lore.
Despite recurrent knee problems affecting his bowling, Stokes has four five-wicket hauls, with a best of 6 for 22 against the Windies in 2017. Stokes becomes the fifth Englishman to achieve the established all-rounder benchmarks:
Sir Ian Botham: 5,200 runs at an average of 33.54 and 383 wickets at 28.40.
Andrew Flintoff: 3,845 runs and 226 wickets in just 79 Tests.
Stuart Broad: 3,662 runs and 604 wickets (retired) – the fifth man ever to reach 600 wickets.
Ben Stokes becomes just the third player after Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis to achieve the double of 6000 runs and 200 wickets in Test cricket 🫡#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/bT04C65Vcb
— ICC (@ICC) July 11, 2024
Stokes’s return to bowling after recovery has bolstered England’s lineup. With a higher batting average than bowling, Stokes epitomizes the modern-day all-rounder.
In the hallowed halls of Lord’s, Ben Stokes has etched his legacy – a cricketer who excels with both bat and ball, leaving an indelible mark on the game.
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