- July 27, 2025
Cricket rarely serves up moments this epic — and when it comes from a captain, it’s pure magic. Ben Stokes has now entered an exclusive league, smashed a century, and claimed five wickets all in the same Test match. In nearly 150 years of Test cricket, only four other captains have ever done it. Let’s take a quick look at the legends Stokes now stands beside.
Ben Stokes in Manchester: The Modern-Day Gladiator
England vs India, 2025 — a series already loaded with drama and intensity — gave fans a vintage Stokes moment in the fourth Test at Old Trafford. India put up a decent 358 in the first innings, but Stokes was having none of it. He charged in for 24 overs and ended with 5/72, sending key players like Gill, Sudharsan, and Sundar packing.
But Stokes wasn’t finished. He fought hard to score 141 off 198 balls, reaching his 14th Test century with a powerful boundary. When he reached his hundred, the crowd erupted—not just for the innings, but for history. Stokes joined an exclusive group as just the fifth captain in history to score a century and take five wickets in a single Test. Now that’s leading from the front.
Trailblazers of the Past: The Elite Company Stokes Joins
Let’s go back and see the four captains Stokes now shares this unique honour with already. First up is Imran Khan — arguably Pakistan’s finest captain and one of the greatest all-rounders the game has ever seen. He scored 117 runs and took 11 wickets against India in 1983; that is not only great, but also a complete domination.
And then we have Mushtaq Mohammad, also a Pakistan great, who accomplished the feat against the West Indies in 1977, with an all-round effort of 121 and 5/28, setting things up for an easy win.
And Garry Sobers – perhaps the most talented cricketer of all time – scored 174 against England in 1966 and took five wickets like he was just taking a stroll in the park. There are not many players with such elegance and determination.
And finally, Denis Atkinson—the original trailblazer of this elite club! If that name rings a bell, it’s because back in 1955, during the England vs Australia Test at Lord’s, he blasted a remarkable 219 and also grabbed five wickets.
What Makes This Feat So Rare?
Let’s be honest — most Test captains aren’t all-rounders. And even the ones who are don’t often dominate both disciplines in the same game. Managing strategies, rotating bowlers, handling pressure, and then still having the mental space to score a century or run in for 20+ overs? That’s superhero stuff.
This stat — only five captains have ever done it — shows just how taxing and elite this achievement is. It’s not just about skill. It’s about endurance, timing, guts, and sheer cricketing IQ. That’s why Ben Stokes didn’t just pull off a rare double — he reminded us of what it truly means to lead by example.
Ben Stokes didn’t just create a record. He revived the golden ideal of a captain who fights, lifts, and carries his team in every way possible. By doing what only four men before him have done, he turned a Manchester Test into a memory that fans will talk about for years.
So, here’s a question for all you cricket lovers: Are we witnessing one of the greatest captaincy eras of modern Test cricket — not just in terms of leadership, but sheer all-round excellence?
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