Ben Stokes To Reach A 100 Tests For England, Very Soon!

Ben Stokes is all set to join the elite group of English cricketers who have played a century of Test matches and more. The ongoing Test match at Uppal here is his 98th which means the third Test at Rajkot will be his 100th. Previously 15 cricketers have played 100 Tests and more for England with the expert manipulator of the seam, Jimmy Anderson turning out in 183 Tests starting from 2003. Without a doubt the New Zealand-born Stokes who bats left-handed and bowls with his right hand has made a phenomenal contribution to England’s fortunes for 11 years, scoring 6117 runs, taking 197 wickets and 102 catches. On Friday, he gave an exhibition of top class batsmanship excelling in defense and attack, one that enabled his team to put up a competitive total on the board. Stokes bats at No 5/6 where he has scored 5449 runs before the start of the Test here. His highest scores in these two positions are 176 and 258. He has led England in 31 Tests and from mid 2022 has formed a successful combination with former New Zealand batter Brendon McCullum winning 13 Tests quickly adapting to aggressive ways of wielding the willow. In the last Ashes series he was close to the spectacular making 405 runs in nine innings and thwarting Australia from winning the series. His knock of 70 on Friday indicated that he could prove to be a long thorn in India’s flesh in the five Test series.