Follow UsEngland captain Ben Stokes, on July 25 (Friday), registered his first 50-plus score after 11 innings on Day 3 of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Having claimed 5/72 in the first innings, Stokes became only the third England captain after Stanley Jackson and Gubby Allen to score a fifty and take a five-wicket haul in a Test match.
Fifty and 5+ wicket haul as an England captain in a Test match
Stanley Jackson - 82* & 5/58 vs AUS, Nottingham, 1905
Gubby Allen - 68 & 5/36 vs AUS, Brisbane, 1936
Ben Stokes - 52* & 5/72 vs IND, Manchester, 2025
Overall, Stokes is the fourth captain to achieve this milestone against India, joining Imran Khan, Shaun Pollock, and Jason Holder.
Captains to score a fifty and take a five-wicket haul against India in Tests
Imran Khan - 117, 6/98 & 5/82, Faisalabad, 1983
Shaun Pollock - 55* & 5/40, Gqeberha, 2001
Jason Holder - 52 & 5/73, Hyderabad, 2018
Ben Stokes - 52* & 5/72, Manchester, 2025
Stokes, who last scored a fifty in November 2024, walked out to bat with England at 349/4 and showed tremendous control right from the start of his innings.
The left-hander scored 66 off 116 deliveries but had to retire hurt after experiencing discomfort in his leg, which appeared to be either a cramp or a hamstring issue. However, he came in to bat after the fall of the seventh wicket, and ended the day unbeaten on 77.
The all-rounder is also the leading wicket-taker in the series, having taken 16 wickets at an impressive average of 24.75.