Test Cricket Sees Ben Stokes Deliver One of His Finest Performances

The English Ben Stokes appeared like a thunderbolt when he made his debut on the pitch when the spotlight reached the Old Trafford pitch in Manchester. He was quiet when he played, but he played thunder. Stokes is known to rise to the situation when the chips are down and the fourth Test between India and England was an ideal one where he could show it.

First, he ended the 2-year spell of a hundred droughts. His next stop was India, where he ripped through the batting line-up, taking a five-wicket haul to shake the visitors. Stokes was not just a plugger; he was a director. His performance resounded in the locker rooms, behind the microphone, and in record books during the next decades.

Stokes the batter: A return to Roar:

Stokes return to form with the bat came just when England needed consolidation and momentum. Walking in after  a solid foundation was laid by Joe Root, Stokes settled in with precision, letting the pitch speak before letting his bat do the talking.

Shortly before the morning drinks break, he brought up his first test hundred in over two years, a sign of belief for fans and a roar of redemption for himself. With deft touches and powerful strokes, he reminded everyone of  the Stokes who pulled off the Headingley miracle, the World Cup final hero, and the Ashes warrior. His 141-run partnership wasn’t just about personal glory.

It was crafted to grind down India’s spirit. Two massive sixes down the ground showed his aggression, while his Partnerships  helped propel England to a towering 669, their highest total at the venue and one that left India chasing shadows.

Stokes the blower: Breaking the backbone

If his batting efforts turned heads, his bowling spell broke backs. Having already been England’s most effective pacer throughout the series, he once again demonstrated his ability to deliver under pressure with the ball with relentless hostile lengths, tight lengths and clever variation. His 5/72 in the first innings included the prized wicket of Shubman Gill, India’s vice captain, who had shown flashes of brilliance earlier in the series.

The dismissal of LBW in a tense captain vs. captain moment was the highlight of the match. Stokes didn’t stop there. His removal of Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar effectively snuffed out India’s lower-order resistance, ensuring that England maintained the upper hand heading into the second innings. With that fifer, Stokes joined elite English company.

Only three other Englishmen Tony Greig, lan Banton and Gus Atkinson have managed double centuries and five-wicket hauls in the same test. Even more remarkably, only five test captains across all nations have achieved his feat.

Fatigue and Fitness: A cloud over Day 5

However, not all of Stokes’ impact was positive, at least not in terms of England’s strategy moving forward. After winning everything with bat and ball strokes, he looked visibly stiff, struggling with cramps towards the end of the innings. When England began their second innings, Stokes was absent from the bowling attack. His inability to bowl on Day 4 raised the questions and concerns. Without their captain, England’s bowling unit lacked the bite and balance they had earlier.

As KL Rahul and Shubham Gill mounted a strong resistance with an unbeaten 174-run partnership, England’s grip on the game began to loosen. Assistant coach Marcus Trescothick confirmed Stokes was dealing with soreness from his heavy workload, stating that they were hopeful he could return on Day 5. But without him, England looks far less threatening.

Whether he blows on Day 5 or not could decide the match. But win or lose, his all-round heroics have already etched a timeless chapter in modern cricket.