Ben Stokes created a massive impact with bat and ball as England beat West Indies sby 113 runs in the second Test at Old Trafford on Monday. The Windies, set nominal 312 to win, were bowled out for 198 on the fifth day as England levelled the three-match series 1-1.
Stokes made 176 in England’s first-innings 469/9 declared and a buccaneering 78 not out on Monday that set up another declaration by captain Joe Root. Stokes capped a dominant individual display as he also took two key wickets Monday after Stuart Broad’s early burst helped reduce the West Indies to 37/4.
Also read: Stokes and Co bounce back with a commanding win at Old Trafford
Shamarh Brooks (62) and Jermaine Blackwood (55) kept England at bay during a fifth-wicket stand of exactly 100. But Stokes, yet again proved a partnership breaker when his short ball had Blackwood, gloving to diving wicketkeeper Jos Buttler on the stroke of tea.
Here is how Twitter hailed the England all-rounder’s efforts:
Whatever Ben stokes is eating lately I need that 😩
— Andile Phehlukwayo (@andileluck19) July 20, 2020
Ben Stokes: faces 356 balls in 487 minutes first inngs. Delivers an 11 over spell of aggressive round the wkt bowling. Races to 78 in 57 deliveries 2nd inngs. Then serves up 14.4 overs of Match changing aggression with the ball. Think about that next time you feel tired. #Gr8ness
— Ian bishop (@irbishi) July 21, 2020
- Most attacking knock by a Test opener
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) July 20, 2020
- Most leaves in a Test for England
- Most swing in an innings for England
- Most bouncers for England in 5 years
He attacks, he blocks; he swings, he bounces.
Ben Stokes - he's whatever you want him to be.https://t.co/stVYzlrGTA
It's become habit to say you can't sum up Ben Stokes' impact by numbers alone but in this series, that might be wrong:
— Rory Dollard (@thervd) July 20, 2020
343 runs at 114.33
9 wickets at 16.33
That about does it.
When have you seen a bowler do this?
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) July 20, 2020
Ben Stokes is at a special level where a game of cricket is whatever he wants it to be. You don't see that often in sport. https://t.co/sQjmUpOAA6
Whether he's got the bat in hand, or he's bowling, or he's in the field - what a great competitor and brilliant cricketer Ben Stokes is. A match-winning all-rounder like Stokes is something that Pakistan has lacked for many years #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) July 20, 2020
I don't think I have seen a better all rounder in my 34 years than Ben Stokes. The guy is just class. This last year or so he has been just immense. Need some runs he steps up, need a wicket he steps up, need a ball catching that seems impossible he catches it. Unreal talent
— Bfclee53 (@bfclee53) July 21, 2020
Ben Stokes is the new.......Ben Stokes!
— Gautam Govitrikar DMD (@Gautaamm) July 21, 2020
That’s it! That’s the tweet! #BenStokes #unfaircomparison #cricket
Ben Stokes batting avg in the series is 114.33 and bowling avg is 16.33.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) July 20, 2020
The difference of 98.00 is third highest in a Test series for any all-rounder who batted 500 balls & bowled 50 overs in the series. Only behind Kallis (113.80 vs WI, 2003) and Botham (98.77 vs Ind, 1982).
Ben stokes is actually the best cricketer in the world right now. I dont care what anyone says. Absolutely phenomenal player
— Stephen Harris (@steviebowls11) July 21, 2020
So has the debate started that Ben Stokes is a more influential & impactful all-rounder than Jacques Kallis? To me, Stokes fall in the category of Botham, Kapil, Imran, Hadlee. Better batsman than all of them but shade lower as a bowler. Sobers & Kallis remain creme de la crème.
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) July 21, 2020
Ben Stokes:
— Arshad Shaik (@ArshadShaik003) July 20, 2020
1) Crucial knock in WC games
2) Crucial knock in WC final
3) Took brilliant catch in WC
4) Took crucial wickets in WC
5) Unbelievable innings in Ashes
6) Captained 1st Test vs WI
7) Scored century in 300 balls
8) Took a wicket
9) Scored quick fifty as opener pic.twitter.com/yReAyy8DWo
Most Test runs in 2020:
— Ramesh Daukiya (@RameshDaukiya6) July 20, 2020
- Ben Stokes (612)
Most Test wickets in 2020:
- Ben Stokes (17)
Most Test catches in 2020:
- Ben Stokes (12)#ENGvsWI #BenStokes pic.twitter.com/z0tPpm8yFE
In this game, Ben Stokes has scored 254 of the 443 runs while he has been at the crease (and been dismissed once). He scored his slowest Test century, then the fastest Test fifty by an England opener. What a player.
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) July 20, 2020