Ben Stokes Bows Out With A Test Record No Cricketer Has Ever Touched
Ben Stokes has closed the final chapter of his international cricket career, and he leaves behind a record book full of numbers that no other player has ever matched. The England all-rounder is the only player in Test history to bat in all 11 batting positions, dismiss batters from all 11 batting positions, and reportedly take catches of batters from every position too, though this last claim remains unverified. This is a rare feat, and it shows just how many different jobs Ben Stokes did for his team over the years.
Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. His England journey started way back in 2011 and went on for more than 250 matches across all formats. From opening the batting to rescuing his team in the middle, and even finishing innings lower down the order, Ben Stokes did it all. He also picked up wickets from batters standing at every single position in the order, which shows why he is called a complete all-rounder.
The Rare Record That Sets Ben Stokes Apart
Cricket has seen many great all-rounders over the years, but none of them have managed what Ben Stokes has done. Batting in all 11 positions in Test cricket is not easy. It means a player has opened the innings, batted at number three, four, five, and so on, all the way down to number 11. Ben Stokes has done exactly that during his long career.
On top of this, Ben Stokes has also taken the wicket of batters coming in at every single position, from the opener to the last man. This double record, batting in every spot and dismissing batters from every spot, has never been achieved by anyone else in Test cricket history. It highlights how flexible and useful Ben Stokes was for England, no matter what the team needed from him.
Early Career And Rise To Stardom
Ben Stokes made his England debut in 2011 and slowly built his name as a hard-hitting batter and a fast, aggressive bowler. Over time, he became one of the most important players in the England setup. His ability to change games quickly, either with the bat or the ball, made him a key member of the team in Test matches, One Day Internationals, and T20 cricket.
One of his best-known innings came in January 2016, when Ben Stokes smashed 258 runs against South Africa in Cape Town. This knock came off just 198 balls and included 30 fours and 11 sixes. During this innings, Ben Stokes also reached 250 runs in only 196 balls, which remains the fastest 250 in Test cricket history. He also built a huge partnership of 399 runs with Jonny Bairstow, the highest for the sixth wicket in Test history.
2019: The Year Ben Stokes Became A Household Name
The year 2019 turned Ben Stokes into one of the most talked-about cricketers in the world. First, he played a game-changing innings of unbeaten 84 runs in the dramatic ODI World Cup final against New Zealand, helping England win their first-ever World Cup title. Later that same year, Ben Stokes produced an unforgettable innings of 135 not out against Australia at Headingley during the Ashes series, keeping England’s hopes alive in that Test match.
These two performances came within a short span of time and showed the world exactly what Ben Stokes was capable of when the pressure was highest. Both innings are still remembered as some of the greatest moments in English cricket history.
Ben Stokes The All-Rounder: Batting And Bowling Numbers
Ben Stokes finished his Test career with 7,273 runs at an average of 34.46, along with 252 wickets at an average of 31.03. This makes him only the second player in the history of Test cricket to complete the double of more than 7,000 runs and 250 wickets. The only other player to do this is South Africa’s Jacques Kallis.
Ben Stokes also holds the record for the most sixes in Test cricket, with 138 to his name. He is one of only three batters in the history of the format to hit more than 100 sixes in Tests. His best bowling figures in an innings stand at 6 wickets for 22 runs, and he has picked up 10 four-wicket hauls during his career.
During his time as England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes led the team to 24 wins from 44 matches, which places him third on the list of most successful England Test captains, behind only Joe Root and Michael Vaughan.
Ben Stokes Career Stats Table
The Manchester Test: One Of His Finest All-Round Shows
One of the best all-round performances by Ben Stokes came during the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in Manchester. In that match, Ben Stokes scored 141 runs off 198 balls, hitting his 14th Test century after waiting more than two years for one. Along with his batting effort, he also picked up figures of 5 wickets for 72 runs in the same match.
This all-round show made Ben Stokes the first England captain in history to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in the same Test match. He also became only the fourth England player overall to achieve this feat, joining the names of Tony Greig, Ian Botham, and Gus Atkinson. During this same match, Ben Stokes also crossed the mark of 7,000 Test runs and 200 Test wickets, becoming the first English cricketer in 148 years of Test cricket to reach this double.
The Curfew Controversy Before Retirement
Ben Stokes’ retirement came shortly after an off-field issue linked to England’s first Test win over New Zealand. Ben Stokes and fellow player Gus Atkinson were first ruled out of the second Test after they broke the team’s midnight curfew rule. This happened while an investigation was going on regarding an incident at a London nightclub.
Later, the Cricket Regulator said there was not enough evidence to prove that any rules were broken by either player. The England and Wales Cricket Board also confirmed that Ben Stokes was not part of the fight and did not even see either incident happen. Gus Atkinson, on the other hand, was found to be the victim of attacks that were not started by him. Even though both players were cleared of any serious wrongdoing, they were given written warnings for breaking the team’s conduct rules, and missing the second Test was seen as fair punishment for this.
A Career Full Of Records
Ben Stokes leaves international cricket with a set of records that very few players will ever come close to matching. His batting stats show him as one of the most reliable middle-order players England has ever had, while his bowling numbers place him among the best fast-bowling all-rounders in the modern game. Adding his fielding skills and his sixes record to this list only makes his career look even more complete.
From his double century in Cape Town to his World Cup-winning knock, and from his Headingley heroics to his all-round show in Manchester, Ben Stokes built a career filled with big moments. His unique Test record of batting and dismissing batters from all 11 positions stands as one more proof of just how many different roles he played for England during his long international career.
